Impossible to miss: these grand works of street art dominate the facades of our cities. All over the world, buildings have become monumental canvases taken over by renowned urban artists. While muralism is more popular than ever, it is by no means new and its origins lie in the Mexican Revolution.
For more than a century now, mural painting has been able to reflect the politics and aesthetics of its time. Today, muralism is above all a privileged means of communication that companies are scrambling for.
Follow us as we explore neo-muralism, the advent of large-scale street art!
A short history of muralism, the monumental movement of street art
Urban art, muralism, graffiti... There's a multitude of terms relating to street art. It's easy to get confused between these often overused words. How can you make sense of it all? We'll explain everything below.
Muralism is not graffiti
At the origins of street art as we know it today, there was graffiti. Already observed in Ancient Greece, this practice officially began in the 1960s, in Philadelphia, in the United States. Cornbread and Cool Earl would be the founders of «Graffiti Writing», a street art consisting of applying spray-painted lettering to walls, illegally.
Ten years later, the graffiti fever takes over New York. Big names in street art emerge, such as Blade You Taki 183. Techniques are developing, stencilling and stickers are being added, among others, to that of aerosol. The message is visible in the streets, the metros. Considered degrading to public space, graffiti is taxed as Vandalism and repressed.
Indeed, graffiti aims to be transgressive. It illegally invests public space and private priorities to challenge social norms, such as the ubiquity of advertising. Its objective is not recognition from the general public or artistic institutions, but rather from its peers. By definition, graffiti is therefore politics and excluded from art market.
Muralism, the legal elder sibling of graffiti
Graffiti and muralism, both considered part of the broad spectrum of «street art» or «urban art,» differ in scale. As its name suggests, muralism takes on’immense sections of wall, while graffiti is generally more human-sized. While muralism has historically been integrated by politicised commissions, graffiti has long remained in the shadow of illegality. However, one commonality unites them: their original political dimension.
It all started with Mexican muralism
Born in Mexico as a result of The 1910 revolution, muralism is initially a Political art. It is worn by renowned artists such as Diego Rivera You José Clemente Orozco. Mexican murals are erected on major public buildings. These artistic commissions were inspired by pre-Hispanic popular and national traditions, illustrating the glory of the people. Understandable and legible by all, they formed committed and educational popular art. The movement's major works can be seen today in the Mexican capital, such as the very first mural of the movement, The Creation, created by Diego Rivera at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City in 1922.
Political muralism is spreading across the world
In the 60s, cities like Berlin were the flagships of mural activism in Europe. The Berlin Wall embodied a true artistic, rebellious vision in the face of GDR policy. As early as the 1970s, The United States They draw inspiration from the movement within a context of social and ethnic struggles. The community spirit provides the fertile ground for a revival of mural painting. The United States administration of the New Deal era then commissioned public works inspired by the Mexican muralist movement.
Between graffiti, which is frowned upon, and political muralism, which is encouraged, urban art maintains a complex relationship with society and legality. It reflects the prevailing climate, popular and governmental ambitions. Muralism, however, enjoys a privileged status. Less ephemeral than its younger sibling, graffiti, it is intended to be long-lasting.
Muralism is a real communication tool
For Diego Rivera already, The muralist work is a communication tool, the establishment of a new, liberating order. The muralism movement enabled the creation of a continuity between art and everyday life, between the act of creation and social dynamics. As a street art, it is Free and open to all, regardless of social or cultural background. Almost democratic.
Today, muralism set aside his political armband to don an aesthetic of consensual beauty. Businesses, town halls and property developers, tear each other to pieces the big Street artists. Seduced by this monumental art, these new figures of authority use Urban art as a vector of influence of their identity. They are the new conductors of our cities' appearance.
Today, muralism is enchanting cities anew.
Today, things have changed a lot for the Street art. If some street artists continue down the path of protest and illegality, commissions from’Murals have lost their commitment to carrying the banner of a new policy, that of urban beautification.
Mural artists are committed to the re-enchantment of cities
Pour les artistes, une œuvre murale reste un political act. And it’s thanks to its aesthetics. Jérôme Thomas states: «Taking public space is already a political act in itself: it's pointing out disgusting neighbourhoods and architectures.» The director, in particular, has undertaken a long-term documentary project, with The sky's the limit, dedicated to neo-muralism and its artists. Monumental frescoes are primarily intended to re-enchant neighbourhoods and the everyday lives of passers-by, to create a collective enjoyment of public space.
More pleasant than advertising, Murals therefore dress the facades of our cities to bring poetry to our lives. «I believe that street art should enhance the urban fabric, not scar it. My work is of a poetic nature,» he stresses. Jef Aérosol. The grey skies give way to colourful explosions. For the stencil artist C215, «Street art isn't about protest, it's about pleasure.» Its legal framework enables the control of mural artwork, chosen to adorn walls with selected pieces. in harmony with the urban fabric.
Neo-muralism is becoming the big trend in street art
now considered provocative hype. A sharp and unexpected turn for many graffiti artists, who are now commissioned for large-scale site-specific works. Because neither illegal nor subversive, contemporary mural works are the result of a desire for the aestheticisation of urban space. They require permissions, supervision, and funding. Muralism is becoming institutionalised and commercialised. Municipalities, businesses, collectors, and galleries offer mural artists A meteoric rise to professionalism and glory.
Since around 2010, the popularity of muralism in street art has been steadily growing. Urban regeneration projects are in full expansion. The Open-air urban galleries multiplying on every street corner, like Oberkampf wall.
Other iconic muralist works were commissioned by major developers:
The immense portrait Shhh!!! Par Jef Aerosol, made in 2011 just a stone's throw from the Centre Pompidou.
The Mr Chat gigantic painted on the forecourt of the Centre Pompidou in 2004, for the release of the film Treehouse chats by Chris Maker, at an event produced by Art.
The project Inside Out of JR, initiated in 2011 and funded by the American prize TED. JR continues to make headlines. He recently responded to a proposal from DRAC to create a giant anamorphic trompe-l'œil in front of the Eiffel Tower, on 19 May 2021. A week later, he's dressing a wall in the Boulevard Saint-Germain In the 7th arrondissement with the artwork No trespassing.
· Quay 36 and Eiffage Immobilier ordered a mural in April 2021 from Supakitch & Koralie, Cascade Palm, to dress a new neighbourhood.
Muralism has undoubtedly become the street-art star trend. In the face of’innumerable tenders launched every week, the mural artists have a bright future ahead of them!
Street Designers, an urban art production company specialising in mural design and creative events.
To meet these new needs, many Agencies and artists offer their expertise in design mural to project leaders. Among them, Street Designers. Thanks to a Expertise for over 20 years, a network as vast as it is sharp, as well as a hotbed of Street artists from all walks of life, the team is getting on with it at the service of developers and their clients and meets a primary need today: Branding.
A network of over 200 street artists
The agency adapts to each request to offer a personalised response. To do this, it connects businesses and artists across France. Nearly 200 professional muralists with diverse styles are on hand to listen to advertisers' wishes.
Bespoke wall creations
Street Designers responds to requests and calls for projects for the beautification of urban spaces. The agency instils A new life for business premises and façades with a design an original mural. The aim? To enhance brand identity, optimise productivity and team cohesion, promote employee well-being, and attract future clients. Each company's mission and culture are showcased through one Bespoke street art mural, like at home Gem You Sephora.
360° support in wall design
From concept to completion, including production, the agency operates a Organisational and aesthetic monitoring within the strict confines of the allocated budget. Street Designers takes care of telling your story without you having to worry about a thing. Project management, mock-up and implementation are part of their expertise to ensure 360° support.
Wall design is more than ever a modern and creative communication tool who respond to the branding challenges of the contemporary world. Street artists with unique styles bring each of these projects to life.
The street artists and muralists of Street Designers
NERONE
In 2007, Nerone founded the collective Le Coktail, blending street art, graffiti, mural design, painting, and decoration. He is inspired by the energy of cities, streets, and nightlife. In his work, he combines club atmosphere with organic floral forms. His murals can be seen in Paris, New York, Bangkok, Berlin, Marrakech, and Seoul. He has collaborated with companies such as Danone, Puma, and Jaguar Land Rover.
CKEJA
The Paris-based illustrator uses a spontaneous drawing technique, blending social critique with the absurd. He mixes his characters' stories into a controlled chaos, a metaphor for the human condition.
JULIEN COLOMBIER
A self-taught Parisian painter, Julien Colombier is influenced by the world of graffiti, Japanese art, Matisse, and Keith Haring. His universe, which is simultaneously dreamlike, enchanting, and disquieting, is populated by lush and colourful tropical jungles or forests. His geometric and botanical motifs create a hypnotic organic environment for the viewer. The artist regularly collaborates with brands to customise shops, such as Cartier or Chanel.
SCRED
After exploring different graphic universes and spending a period of illegal graffiti, he explores the city in every nook and cranny to find rare and new locations. An experienced coach in artistic events for 15 years, SCRED has successfully merged his passion for graffiti and the corporate world.
2SHY
A passionate activist, 2SHY has been exploring a vibrant, spontaneous, and colourful universe for over a decade. He combines a powerful iconography with lettering design found at the crossroads of his childhood imagery, graffiti, and the 2.0 revolution.
Media voluntary organisation
Florian Schneider, alias Media ODV, is a French artist, painter, and illustrator from the graffiti scene. He has notably collaborated with Reebok, Adidas, Red Bull Music, as well as the cities of Reims and Paris. His works and lettering vibrate to the rhythm of neon colours.
OPERA
The painter began in the traditional graffiti scene and developed a passion for complex letter painting. In parallel, he honed his mural design skills with a graphic and geometric approach. His inspirations include Vasarely, Lissitzky, Kandinsky, Constructivism, Retro-futurism, and the Bauhaus school.
HEDI BAKA
Imbued with graffiti culture, Hedi Baka covers all the mediums within his reach. From murals to canvases, textiles, customised objects, and even skin, he is always on the lookout for a new project. His works juggle between comics and cubism, figurative and abstraction, naive art and striking messages.
Kalouf
Kalouf began his graffiti journey in the streets, merging lettering, backgrounds and characters in a colourful style that is at once realistic, caricatured and fantastical. In 1998, he joined the ACC graffiti crew, specialising in large-scale themed mural creation. Since 2010, his solo work, tinged with hyperrealism and 3D, has continued to be recognised within the graffiti and street art scene.
ARNAUD LIARD
Emerging from the Parisian graffiti scene, Arnaud Liard is a multifaceted artist, working as much on walls as on canvas. He is constantly seeking new textures and more figurative subjects, with a desire to incorporate the «street» aesthetic he hails from.
JÉRÉMY LUKS
Luksur is notable for its simplistic yet aggressive style: drips, direct lines, a great deal of talent, and above all, a love for drawing. Unconventional, Luksur's work draws its inspiration from a blend of graffiti, graphic design, and painting.
Velvet
Velvet, born Matthieu, is inspired by the maritime and industrial world he encountered in his childhood. Building on his experience in industrial design, his painting always tends to relate to the space in which it is placed.
BARBER
His artistic practice began very early with graffiti and is defined by a remarkable combination of street art and academic techniques learned at a major school of applied arts. Drawn with aerosol on walls or laid out on paper, his characters are personifications of a certain disgust with the major developments of our society. In 2013, he notably participated in a major renovation project in his hometown, Vitry-sur-Seine, alongside artists Stew, Meushay, and C215.
Also found in the catalogue: I don't know, Bern, HAKIM IDRISS and many more besides…
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Writing ©Joana Durbaku
