Top 50 Breakthroughs in Graffiti (SUPER GALLERY)

This super gallery showcases the cutting edge of graffiti, including remote controlled graffiti robots, graffiti chocolate bars, LED graffiti throwies and cleanvertising. 

Graffiti and counter-culture art have always represented the cutting edge of cool, but modern advances are taking graffiti to the next level.  In addition, graffiti is becoming a mainstream form of art, with artists like Banksy realizing commercial fame, advertisers embracing graffiti, and product designers selling products colored in graffiti design.

Graffiti 2.0

L.A.S.E.R. Tag - Laser Makes Every Building A Billboard (VIDEO)

Graffiti Research Lab’s Laser tag system brings ‘Tagging’ out of a can and into the high-tech world we live in. GRL unleashed their system in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and is encouraging surrounding artists to get learn about this high-tech tagging machine. GRL is even offering a ‘How-To’ on… [More]

High Tech Graffiti - LED Throwies (GALLERY)

Graffiti Research Lab is a high tech group dedicated to “outfitting graffiti artists with open sourced technologies for urban communication”.  What does that mean?  High Tech Graffiti!  According to Graffiti Research Lab, “LED Throwies are an inexpensive way to add color to any ferromagnetic surfac… [More]

Protest 2.0 - Online Dot Matrix Graffiti Bike (VIDEO)

Do you remember the GraffitiWriter Remote Controlled Truck?  Now the same concept has been applied to a bike with a purpose. Meet the latest techy, wise and environmentally conscious protest ever. Design and computer geek Joshua paints the streets of New York just before the Republican Convention w… [More]

GraffitiWriter Automated Graffiti Robot - FINALLY!

Finally, it’s what I’ve always been waiting for!  A 9.3 MPH robotic grafitti robot!  GraffitiWriter can be controlled remotely and programmed to ‘write text’ (which is code for spray paint your propaganda everywhere).  In other words, you can replace your old remote control car (the one with the spr… [More]

Urban Coloring Books - Street Photos You Colour for Fun (GALLERY)

Despite what you may have been told, colouring books are not just for kids. Just look at this urban colouring book and sticker kit from Sanithna Phansavanh! It integrates black and white photographs of city scenes, then lays over black outlines, like the ones in a kids colouring book that you can de… [More]

Pixel Roller - Enhance Your Graffiti (VIDEO)

The “PixelRoller” project is a collabortive investigation into a new creative tool between Stuart Wood MA (RCA) Interaction Design and Florian Ortkrass MA (RCA) Design Products. PixelRoller is a paint roller that paints pixels, designed as a rapid response printing tool specifically to print digita… [More]

Floating 3D Graffiti - “Tagged in Motion” by DAIM (VIDEO)

“Tagged in Motion” is a project created by graffiti artist DAIM, that eliminates a graffer canvas of a solid matter and unveils the ability to be able to tag in mid air, creating a virtual world of graffiti visible trough 3D glasses.  The graffiti is captured using three camcorders with motion … [More]

Urban Body Graffiti - Walee’s Graphic Designed Skin (GALLERY)

If you’re talented at graphic arts or have a gift for graffiti, why limit yourself to traditional mediums? Walee (Waldo Lee) doesn’t. He uses the female body as his canvas, putting his design skills toward creating the ultimate art project; one that is carried on the skin of his girlfriends. The c… [More]

Video Hacking - Add Graffiti to YouTube Streaming Videos

New widgets are making it easy for users to hack videos (including those on YouTube) to add graffiti and sarcastic commentary.  For example, Vidavee Graffiti enables you to load a video directly from YouTube and then mess with it.  Some of the features are rather corny, but it is very easy to use. … [More]

High-Tech Graffiti - “Couleur sur l’Objet” Painting Robot

Get Banksy one of those! “Couleur sur l’Objet” by Stefan Rechsteiner brings high tech and robotics to street art. “Couleur sur l’Objet” is basically a wall climbing robotic printer, based on the principle of the vortex-robots that are able to climb walls with the help of suction. It featu… [More]

Light Spray - Glowing Graffiti

About to land at Suck UK (the source of so much glorious stuff, as you can see from my portfolio) is this awesome light spray which basically enables you to ‘make’ glowing graffiti.  Not available yet, Suck UK simply have a picture of it on their website but it’s enough to convince me that it will … [More]

Braille Graffiti - Art For The Blind (VIDEO)

Graffiti has been a practice since the discovery of the cave wall, though it has never gained general recognition. People either see it as vandalism or an art form. But there is one group of people that haven’t been able to see what all the fuss is about. For the first time, blind people will be abl… [More]

Graffiti for Nerds

Geeky Counterculture - SciFi Movie Inspired Graffiti (GALLERY)

Graffiti is a form of expression that has seen a lot of controversy and that controversy is not about to be resolved any time soon. If ever.  In any event, take a look at these wonderful movie-inspired graffiti projects. The murals include characters from Star Wars, Alien and the Transformers films… [More]

Geek Graffiti

Remember Nerd Art Paintings?  Well, now we have Geek Graffiti, proving that vintage Nintendo games never lose their cool.  Even in the graffiti counter-culture there’s always room for retro pixels. [More]

Fake Graffiti For Advertising

What Looks Like Graffiti Could Really Be an Ad

Advertisers are hopping all over the wonderful world of graffiti.  Even more exciting, it’s not always clear if graffiti is actually an ad or authentic graffiti… According to the Washington Post, major cities like New York and Miami are seeing buildings plastered with graffiti ads.  The adverti… [More]

Viral Urban Graffiti - GTA IV NYC Wall Murals (VIDEO)

Grand Theft Auto IV has come up with a really creative campaign to market their latest game. GTA hired counterculture artists to create elaborate graffiti wall murals all around New York City.  The images are scattered from China Town to Harlem, so those in the NYC area can head down and check it o… [More]

Hoax Hacks - Skullphone Fakes Digital Billboard Hijack

It was rumoured that a series of Clear Channel digital billboards were hacked by an 18 year old graffiti artist by the name of Skullphone.  As of March 25th, 10 billboards in LA were displaying Skullphone’s logo (a skull talking on a phone) intermittently along with their regular ads. And you can b… [More]

Adidas Embraces Graffiti - 7 Top Graffiti Artists Commissioned to Plaster Subway (GALLERY)

Adidas is embracing graffiti in its latest project, End to End.  The project is a 3 day, 7 graffiti artist adventure in which a subway carriage will be plastered with graffiti, from ‘end to end’.  “Adidas and Foot Locker gathered some ofthe best graffiti artist in the world to work together on a tot… [More]

Graffiti in Product Design

Graffiti Chocolate Bars

A year and a half ago, we covered Artist Bars, which were being sold by Chocolate Bar NYC.  The artistic wrappers helped to support local artists.  Now, the same concept has been extended to a new line of Graffiti Chocolate Bars.  Buy the bars one at a time, or buy a set of 12, which comes in a lu… [More]

Graffitecture - Graffiti That Embraces Your Home (GALLERY)

Graffitecture is a book that suggest how street art can be brought into the home as a way of life.  The end result is an original and cool.  All you have to do is find a graffiti punk to paint your house for you.  Give him some spray, take him into your home and give him the idea of what you want. W… [More]

Graffiti Dinnerware - New York Delft Tableware (GALLERY)

Start with classic porcelain design, and funk it up with graffiti inspired scenes from NYC.  That’s the plan with New York Delft Tableware by Lovegrove & Repucci.  The collection will cost you $80 per piece, which is a small price to pay to dine on plates that have taxi cabs, street vendors and deli… [More]

DIY Graffiti Keyboards - Custom K3YB04RD

Who says you have to shell out hundreds of dollars on an Optimus Maximus keyboard to have a colorful unique one? Any plain keyboard coupled with a mix of marker pens, paint, stickers, assorted decor and a bit of creativity will result in a unique customized hip keyboard with character and style. C… [More]

Writable Graffiti Sneaker - ‘Grafeeti’ Shoes Communicate Your Message (GALLERY)

Graffeeti has launched a new line of ‘Re-Markable’ shoes that let you be the artist.  The shoes allow you to design a style that’s just right for you.  And change it over and over again.  Graffeeti Shoes are retro high-top sports sneakers with writeable areas on them. One pen attaches to the sh… [More]

Bring Graffiti to High Tea - Welovekaoru Graffitea Cups (VIDEO)

Drinking tea from china cups typically evokes images of older ladies in frilly dresses and is often considered a stuffy past time. Be prepared to let go of those stereotypes.  The odds of you seeing a table full of grannies sipping from Kaoru Parry’s cups are oh so slim. In the very off chance you … [More]

Graffiti Seat - The Throne by Ted Nemeth (GALLERY)

What better way to punch up the colour in your living room than with an item like this ultra hip graffiti seat? Whether you have white walls and clean lines or an eclectic mix of clutter, this sofa would suit many modern living environments.  The urban chic statement piece designed by Ted Nemeth is… [More]

Embroidered Graffiti - Modern Art by Richard Saja (GALLERY)

At first it seems like a normal, if somewhat tacky sofa. A closer look at the colorful, amusing embroidery reveals there is something very unique about this modern art. The upholstery by artist Richard Saja is decorated with intricate figurines in a unique form of what could be called embroidered gr… [More]

Colorful Graffiti Shoes - Footwear By Ndeur (GALLERY)

Mattieau Missiaen, 25, is the first artist to offer graffitist work for the new Adidas sneaker collection. Under his own label, Ndeur, however, he designs more than just casual shoes. Women won’t feel bored with their shoe selection and won’t have to worry about colour-coordinating their footwear --… [More]

Random Graffiti Innovation

The Graffiti Report Card - A Cool Way to Combat Ugly Graffiti

What is the Graffiti Report Card? The Graffiti Report Card is a mechanism that you can use to judge graffiti. It’s a sticker with an arrow on it that points to the graffiti. The sticker has a number of categories you can judge the graffiti on as well as a space to write your own comments. The way… [More]

Currency Graffiti - It’s Illegal, So Now It’s Art (GALLERY)

Currency Graffiti is illegal, so of course there are websites devoted to such a wonderful cause.  Does that make it art? Throughout history, people have used currency to vent about virtually everything. From injustice & fighting the corporate power, to anything else they can think up.  I have alway… [More]

Glacier Graffiti - German Tags New Zealand Ice Face

A German man got himself in trouble with the law after flexing his artistic skills in an “art” form being referred to as glacier graffiti.  Jan Philip Scharbert was vacationing in New Zealand when he took decided to tag the ice face of Franz Josef Glacier with graffiti. The 28 year old used regular… [More]

Cartoon Graffiti - The Fakes Project in Argentina (GALLERY)

The Proyecto Falsos (Fakes Project) are fakes of certain cartoon characters (generally children’s cartoons) that proliferate in Argentinian streets, mainly in carousels, children’s hairdressers and fun fares. An involuntary and mis-shapen museum of copies: a Mickey Mouse that looks like a dog, tab… [More]

Guerrilla Paper - Empower Yourself with Designer Graffiti (GALLERY)

Motorola launched Guerilla Paper which is basically designer graffiti.  This concept of guerrilla paper is that you can personalize or transform anything using the signature paper.  This enables you to become a designer of urban landscape, personal places or personal objects.  You start off by dow… [More]

Train Graffiti Kit for Your Home

No one likes being caught by the fuzz and this handy train means you break the law from the safety of your own sofa… The kit comes with your own train and a sheet of graffiti transfers. Throw in some marker pens and the sky is your limit as you tag away to your hearts content. It is rumoured tha… [More]

Accomplishments

Banksy Outdoes Himself - Three Story Work, the Largest Graffiti in London To Date (VIDEO)

Here are some pictures of the new Banksy art which appeared on a Post Office RIGHT NEXT to a CCTV security camera.  The work appeared this week-end, in Newman Street, London. It is his largest work in London to date and uses the theme of the fact we are a nation being watched by CCTV. As you can see… [More]

Rubble as a Canvas - Brazilian Graffitti (GALLERY)

These incredible murals came with nothing more but the description “Brazilian Graffiti,” but that doesn’t make them any less awe inspiring. Whereas most people would look at the rubble as a form of aesthetic disturbance or allow it to put a damper on their daily walks, the artists behind these works… [More]

The Commercialization of Graffiti

Banksy Launches Website - Has the World’s Most Controversial Graffiti Artist Gone Mainstream? (GALLERY)

Banksy, the world’s most famous (and elusive) graffiti artist, has launched a website.  The site showcases his work and provides advice for creating your own graffiti.  For example, Banksy notes, “Be aware that going on a major mission totally drunk out of your head will result in some truly specta… [More]

Graffiti Goes Big - Banksy Originals Sold for £546,000 (GALLERY)

On several occasions, Trend Hunter has covered Banksy, the world’s most famous graffiti artist.  Now, the UK street artist known for punking London Museums has recently put his original works in auction.  10 original pieces of Banksy put in auction at the Bonhams auction house were expected to raise… [More]

Big Buck Pop Art - Banksy’s Kate Moss Sells for $150,000

These prints by the suddenly-ubiquitous graffiti artist Banksy, recently sold for £96,000(about $152,000) at the Bonham’s Urban Art auction.  The painting is the artist’s take on Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe.  Only instead of Monroe’s image, Banksy has used Kate Moss.  Luxist notes, “In terms of p… [More]

Counterculture Biographies - Home Sweet Home is About Banksy’s Bristol (GALLERY)

Home Sweet Home is a book about Banksy, who is arguably the best-known graffiti artist in the world. Banksy is also very shifty, clandestine and surreptitious. Nobody seems to know a whole lot about the Bristol, England native. And whoever knows something is not talking. Anyway, “Home Sweet Home”, s… [More]

Street Art Revolution - Interview with Graffiti Artist Banksy (VIDEO)

Graffiti artist Banksy has always been an enigma. Finally, an interview with him sheds light on his background and ideology.  He explains how he started doing graffiti, what he thinks of his art and the political message it delivers. A must see for any Banksy fan, as it shows him in action. Amazing… [More]

Entire Wall on Ebay - Banksy Graffiti Project (GALLERY)

While some still argue it’s graffiti, urban art is reaching new levels because of an enigmatic English artist known as Banksy, who we have featured several times on Trend Hunter. One of his pieces in on eBay now for $407, 587.47 (subject to change.) The deal with this piece, however, is that the w… [More]

Charitable Street Art - Tanqueray Style Sessions (GALLERY)

Tanqueray has sponsored a high end auction of street art in a charitable project called Tanqueray Style Sessions.  The events, which combines fashion, street art and music, are taking place in April and May in major cities across the US, including San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans and New York. T… [More]

Clean Graffiti

Water Graffiti - Vindict Wine Campaign (VIDEO)

Vindict, an Amsterdam wine company, has come up with a really fun campaign featuring water graffiti. The striking reversed-graffiti is not only an eye catching promotion, but it’s also environmentally-friendly, and a great way to showcase innovative Dutch design. The campaign was launched this mont… [More]

Cleanvertising / Reverse Graffiti (UPDATE) - Ads That Clean The Streets

In 2006, Trend Hunter first wrote about a UK ad firm that offered reverse graffiti, where you wash your ads into the environment.  A year later and new firms have been inspired, plus the idea is getting more coverage. Now, Street Advertising Services are at last offering a more legal solution to st… [More]

Graffiti Goes Green - Grassiti Moss Art (GALLERY)

Edina Tokodi, a talented Hungarian artist now living in Brooklyn, New York, became the talk of the town recently for her “Grassity”. Wherever Tokodi goes, she leaves a graffiti behind, made out of moss. Her affinity to moss isn’t new; in 2005, she already transformed a busy square in Budapest, Hun… [More]

Educational Graffiti

Peace Murals - LA vs War Installation (VIDEO)

Graffiti usually brings up images of young punks vandalizing public property, but these peace murals evoke none such thoughts.  The Yo! What Happened to Peace? art installation in Los Angeles is for LA vs. War and features paintings like a gigantic image of Mahatma Gandhi. The project is meant to a… [More]

Street Art History Lessons - Pure Evil Pearly Kings (VIDEO)

I love these Pearly Kings & Queens which are popping up all over London - and are by a street artist known as Pure Evil. This work, found on a church hoarding, infuses the London tradition of the Pearly Kings and Queens (started in 1875) alongside stencil sprayed butterflies whose wings spell out Pu… [More]

Bizarre Graffiti

Street Poop Art - NYC Sprinkle Brigade (VIDEO)

Why go to the trouble of scooping up dog poo, especially if it doesn’t belong to your dog? Well, if you live in NYC, you won’t have to anymore; just call the Sprinkle Brigade!  They’ll zip down in the Turdmobile (I’m guessing) and turn the offending turds into street art of the kind that soph… [More]

Drainage Graffiti - Brazilian 6emeia Project (GALLERY)

The Brazilians have found some whimsical ways to liven up their storm drains. SAO! and Delufuent teamed up to create 6emeia, a project that involves painting the streets of Sao Paulo. [More]

Graffiti Bags - Cocaine Mule’s Hangtag (GALLERY)

Bag company Cocaine Mule collaborated with street and graffiti artists of Crewest Gallery to celebrate LA Fashion and Market Week. Artists Man One, Zoueh, Vyal, Spum, Sacred, Werc, Overton Loyd, Sherm, Crol, Jnub, Cache, Shark, Upendo, and Noek made use of the limited edition Cocaine Mule bags and … [More]