Street Art: Contemporary Prints From The V&A

Painted graffiti has evolved into a rich and democratic visual expression, commonly called ‘street art’. This exhibition explores the ways street art has moved on from the painted wall into the medium of printmaking, creating distinctive, exciting visuals along the way. The V&A has been collecting street art prints since 2004. Drawn from this collection, Street Art: Contemporary Prints from the V&A showcases prints and stickers by established and emerging street artists, both British and international, such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Sickboy, Pure Evil and D*Face.

The collision of traditional and contemporary within street art printmaking is explored through four themes. Politics and Propaganda demonstrates the different ways street artists comment on contemporary life and current events. Symbols and Characters examines the characters and logos for which street artists become famous. Influences and Image-making shows how artists engage with visual culture and art history. City and Street looks at the defining element of street art: the urban environment. The exhibition is a snapshot of a vibrant genre that continues to evolve and establish itself as an art form in its own right.