Illegal

Hardly any of the works of this short-lived genre still exist today. They were also often documented illegally and under adverse conditions. Illustrated here are key works and rarities that have never been shown. All were created illegally, i.e. without permission, directly for an audience on the street – not for museum contexts.  People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish. But that’s only if it’s done properly” [Banksy]. Long-standing picture  research has condensed a selection of works by some 100 artists from over a dozen countries and their references to pop music, avant-garde art and literature. We discuss why these artists in particular were significant trendsetters for street art and graffiti before Banksy.
 
Artists
Alex Vallauri | Bando | Banksy | Barbara 62/Eva 62 | Blek le Rat | Brassaï | Martha Cooper | Christo/Jeanne-Claude |George Condo | Daniel Buren | Daze | Harald Naegeli | Ernest-Pignon-Ernest | Jane Bauman | Jérôme Mesnager | Jill Posener | Guerrilla Girls| Jenny Holzer | Keith Haring | Lee Quiñones | Marcus Krips | Richard Hambleton | SAMO© [Jean-Michel Basquiat & Al Diaz] | SONER  | Crass /Gee Vaucher  | David Wojnarowicz | Walter Dahn | Jerzy Treliński |Gerard Zlotykamien, et al.