subject: Street Art In Italy [print this page] Street art is seeing something of a Renaissance; from Bristol's annual street art festival in Nelson Street, to works by Banksy in London's East End. This is something which stems well beyond mere graffiti often street artists will be making a political or social statement, while others simply like to get people thinking and talking. Like any art especially modern art it's a matter of personal taste, but instead of flocking to a museum to see some modern works, you could be walking past them in the street.
Street art might be prominent in UK cities, but it's also something you'll see more of in Europe. Places like Berlin are famous for their street artists, but Italy is now seeing a rise in street art. It's worth doing some research before you go so if you happen by works of a famous street artist, you'll know what you're looking at.
Rome boasts some of the greatest works of art in the world, thanks largely to the art collection housed within the Vatican Museums works by Raphael, Michelangelo and of course, it is home to the Sistine Chapel. Yet art has to move forward, and it's easy to pass by street art here, without recognising that this might, in fact, be the future face of the Italian art scene. JB Rock is one of the most well known local street artist, using stencils of famous faces to depict scenes with a message. These will usually be tagged with JB Rock's name, so you'll know when you're seeing one. If you see works featuring Russian dolls, this is Alt97, another recognisable artist in Rome.
The street art scene in Venice is not quite as developed as that of Rome, but it is starting to grow. From artists like Peeta, who make statements about consumerism, to 3D artist San, with their abstract cartoon patterns, there are works to be seen here. There is a growing sense of youth expressionism in what is considered an old city, with more young art artists wanting to use their skills to have their say. When advertising billboards went up in St Mark's square, many were graffitied with statement art.
When leaving your hotels be sure to check out the walls above and around you there could be a street artist's work on your doorstep. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but street art is about people finding their voice, and sharing their views. Expect to start seeing a lot more street art as this trend grows, and you may even begin to appreciate it as much as the great artists of the golden ages.
