Street art used to be something people scraped off walls. Now? It hangs in world-class museums and sells for prices that could buy you a house. How did we get here?

Let's walk through how graffiti and murals evolved from being seen as acts of defiance to symbols of culture, protest, and even luxury.

Where It All Began

It started quietly—on subways, alleyways, and rundown corners of cities. In the 1970s and '80s, street art emerged in places like New York, Philadelphia, and London. At first, it was mostly tagging—a way for artists, often young and unheard, to mark their presence. It wasn't always about art. It was about being seen.

These early pieces weren't welcomed. Cities painted over them, police chased down artists, and the public saw it as nothing more than “vandalism.” But for many artists, the streets were their only canvas. They couldn't afford gallery space, and traditional art institutions often didn't represent their voice.

More Than Spray Paint

As time passed, street art grew up. Artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring started outside the system—on sidewalks and subway walls—but their work carried powerful messages: about race, inequality, love, and life in the city. Slowly, people started to see the skill, passion, and purpose behind the paint.

Street art moved from quick tags to detailed murals, layered stencils, and multimedia installations. It stopped being about rebellion alone. It became a form of storytelling. A way to protest. A way to decorate neglected spaces. And most of all, a way to connect with the public without needing permission.

Banksy and the Turning Point

If there's one name that pushed street art into the global spotlight, it's Banksy. The mysterious UK-based artist made headlines with bold, satirical works—from a girl hugging a bomb (now banned, of course) to rats with signs, to self-shredding art in auction houses.

Banksy blurred the line between street and gallery. His works were suddenly being framed, removed from walls, and auctioned for millions. People began to realize: maybe this wasn't just “graffiti.” Maybe it was modern art.

This moment was a tipping point. Galleries, museums, and collectors started hunting down other street artists. Street art festivals popped up around the world—from Berlin to São Paulo to Cape Town—inviting creators to legally paint large-scale murals.

The Good, The Bad, The Ironic

Here's where it gets interesting. What used to be anti-establishment is now sponsored by cities and brands. The same buildings that once scrubbed graffiti are now commissioning murals. The same artists who got arrested are now flown around the world to paint five-story walls.

It's a strange twist: Street art, once illegal, is now profitable. Some say this is progress—artists finally getting paid. Others say it's lost its soul, becoming commercial and controlled. Either way, there's no doubt that it has changed the look and feel of cities across the globe.

Different Styles, Shared Messages

From Japan's clean-cut characters to Mexico's political murals, street art doesn't look the same everywhere—but it speaks a universal language. Artists around the world use walls to talk about what matters to them. Climate change. Identity. Housing. Hope.

Even in countries where free speech is limited, walls have become silent voices. Through colors and symbols, artists say what they can't shout out loud.

From Alley to Auction

So how did street art go from being something people ran away from… to something they now travel the world to see?

It evolved. It grew smarter, bolder, and more relevant. And maybe most importantly, it refused to go away. Even when painted over, artists returned. Even when called “trash,” they created beauty from the blankness.

Now, we see street art on fashion, in advertising, and even in children's books. It's everywhere—not just in galleries, but in our lives.

What Do You Think?

Do you see street art as culture or clutter? Do you think it should stay raw and rebellious, or is there value in its new global status?

We'd love to know how you feel when you see a massive mural on a city wall or a stencil tucked away in an alley. Does it inspire you? Make you think? Or do you miss the days when art stayed indoors?

Either way, it's clear: street art has changed the world—and our walls will never look the same.