Graffiti comes with baggage. It’s often been associated with vandalism and gang activity. And for years it’s stirred up sentiments — pro and con — about its legitimacy as an art form. However, in the midst of this debate, a shift has taken place. Graffiti is now trending toward the glamorous — showing up in chic places, on hip home furnishings and on high-end fashion accessories. Artists are being commissioned for their work, which is now know as urban, street and spray paint art. Creative professionals say they are inspired by this art form’s energy, style and colors.
The graffiti-infused environment that designer Michael Tavano created for the New York Design Center at DIFFA’s Dining By Design event last year is still generating buzz. Inspired by a dinnerware pattern, his colorful design showcased an elegant table surrounded by an edgy graffiti mural rendered by a local artist. “I wanted to take a baroque dining room and bring it to the streets,” Tavano says. Color and contrast were central elements in his eye-catching design. Tavano told me that he admires the creativity that goes into street art and would like more people to “open their minds and see it as artwork.” In fact, many ideas for the mural came from the artist himself. “We live with color all around us,” Tavano says. “You can use a lot of color and still be comfortable.” Personally, I couldn’t agree more.
“I don’t discriminate when it comes to color. I’ll put any off-colors together and make it look beautiful.” Chor Boogie, spray paint artist.
On a softer note, graffiti is just one element that completes the dining experience at the upscale Rare 120 steakhouse in Las Vegas. You’ll find a subtle hint of graffiti scrawled across the restaurant’s dining chairs. “People don’t even realize the motif is graffiti,” says owner Lonnie Moore, explaining that the overall vision was to create a “super modern, very female-friendly environment.” I love how the custom black and white chairs serve as a neutralizer to the saturated burgundy and red tones in the space. However subtle, I surmise that graffiti was a key ingredient in designing the “cool, sleek and fun” atmosphere that Moore says his clientele wants.
And graffiti in interiors isn’t limited to public spaces such as restaurants: “Street style” home furnishings are growing in popularity, too.
- Michael Tavano was inspired by Lovegrove & Repucci’s New York Delft dinnerware (the company also sells graffiti throw pillows).
- Weegohome.com offers a colorful, urban collection of lighting fixtures and photo art.
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Art images provided by and used with the permission of Chor Boogie. Kent More light image provided by and used with the permission of Weego Home. DIFFA images provided by and used with the permission of Michael Tavano; photographed by Rick Lew.
Turning to fashion, graffiti has already made its mark on footwear and designer handbags, including collections by Louis Vuitton and Coach, and is now influencing jewelry design. Ken Leung’s colorful jewelry collection at kenanddanadesign.com reflects the street art of New York City, which Leung describes as “a raw and unapologetic expression of emotion and rebellion.” His perspective reminds me that graffiti is still a controversial art form. At the same time, Leung sees something else in it: “Art is a means of expression as well as communication. Through that prism, graffiti becomes a very beautiful art form.” He says that graffiti’s impact on fashion will broaden because it’s just such bold acts of expression and creativity that the fashion world esteems.
Keenly aware that graffiti still carries a negative connotation, Chor Boogie calls himself a spray paint artist and emphasizes the positive aesthetic of this art form. While he’s based in San Francisco, his work has taken him around the globe. Commissioned works include a mural at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in China and other public work in Australia; Dubai; Mexico; and Washington, D.C. He also does residential and canvas work. After viewing his portfolio, I was utterly amazed. Not only does he have command of his art medium, but his work is vivid, fluid and multicolored. “I don’t discriminate when it comes to color,” Boogie says. “I’ll put any off-colors together and make it look beautiful.”
Believing in the healing aspects of color, he calls his work “color therapy.” “Consciously or unconsciously, color has an effect on you,” he says. When I asked what he wants others to focus on when deriving color inspiration from his art, Boogie says that people should look at how the art makes them feel, however far they can take that perception. “Look for something from within … and go with what you feel is right.” That may be easier said than done, but if the urban art craze continues, we’ll have plenty more opportunities to become in tune with how it makes us feel.
Share with me your take on graffiti glamour and how it makes you feel.
Post your reply below.
Kelly Porter, interior designer, has been helping clients transform their homes and businesses in the Washington, D.C.–Baltimore area for more than 10 years. In addition to owning
Porter House Designs, her interior and event design business, Kelly works as a consultant for CertaPro Painters, creating color palettes for their customers. CertaPro specs all Sherwin-Williams coatings. Kelly also publishes
Color Sizzle, a widely read design blog. Kelly received her postgraduate design training from the Sheffield School in New York City and has studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.
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Kudos to Michael Tavano.
I love your art and am so proud that you, too support DIFFA.
My name is Jeff Hanson. I am a 16-year old visually impaired artist and I also donate my paintings to DIFFA.
http://www.JeffreyOwenHanson.com
Keep up the awesome work.
Artist Jeff Hanson
Overland Park, Kansas
Along the same lines as graffiti going mainstream is tattoo art’s increasing popularity. Once considered outsider art, and just a wee bit taboo to some, companies like Ed Hardy http://www.edhardyshop.com have brought tattoo art to the masses.
Great article, Kelly!
Thanks, Rachel…and you’re absolutely right: along with graffiti, tattoo art is definitely beginning to influence many areas of design. Ed Hardy is a case in point. Yes, still taboo for some but for others, the new lifestyle is one that embraces the unlikeliest of art forms.
This is awesome! I am working in a school project and I incorporated some graffiti artwork pieces to convey my urban style condo. I had some people questioning my “absurd idea”, so reading this article encourages me work harder on this project.
I’m so glad to hear this! Sometimes those “absurd ideas” are the best ones!
My favorite graffiti appears on the sides of trains. Not too glam, you might say, but it attains a certain level of celebrity simply by becoming a mobile art show. How many car trips were made more interesting by the passing gallery of colorful nonsensical images on freightcars rumbling alongside the interstate? Earthy, grassroots art.
I found a wallpaper that you can draw/paint on. I found a “Tagger” as you would call an Urban Graffiti Artist, to come in and Tag a wall in a dining room, My client decided against it! I love this, we need more risk takers in Interior Design.
I agree, Tiffany. Risk-taking fosters creativity. As Ken Leung says in the story, bold acts of expression and creativity are esteemed in the fashion industry. I believe this is true in interior design, as well. Urban art is not for everyone but it does push us to think out of the box.
Chor Boogie is awesome! I’m saving up!
Whoa, this Chor Boogie is amazing! This is the freshest stuff I’ve seen in awhile – is this the seeds of a future trend? I hope so!
The article is so timely. I am an interior designer and over the past 9 months have used “graffiti” in my design concept for several projects. Last year I started noticing the beauty and artwork of graffiti as I was traveling in the car. Obviously young people relate to this “language” and it is a cultural influence. The concept has even filtered over into some of the needlework designs I have created. I commend you for calling attention to it.
Thanks, Susan. I’d love to see photos of your designs!
This was so cool!
I will be including this to my list of social book marks.
Love the look in the right environment. So much energy. Having a son who was into graffiti and is still called by his tag at 31, I had always felt a frustration for these extremely talented young people. If was rare that the beauty was seen in the amazing works of art. I was NEVER an advocate of vandalism but had always tried to be an advocate of young peoples’ talent.
Wishing you a brightly colored day,
Mary Nolte
BTW – I am a proud Momma of “Nert” who is now a successful web designer & developer in Brooklyn, NY Moxie Media Group!
LOVE IT! I’ve been working on a project where we’re considering a Graffiti theme. It is great to see the art form being used in a beautiful and inspired way as we have been intending. Great inspiration and very timely!
I LOVE graffiti art. Banksy is one of my favorites. I realize it is a contradiction, I wouldn’t want a random artist to express themselves on my home or car, but driving through an otherwise blighted community and seeing splashes of bright color and glimpses of talent can be a nice contradiction to an otherwise depressing environment.
Substantially, the article is actually the freshest on this worthw hile topic. I harmonise with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your future updates. Just saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the wonderful clarity in your writing. I will at once grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates. Fabulous work and much success in your business enterprize!
Art is in every form… and color is everywhere. Only when we get caught up in life’s daily worries do we tend to overlook the cosmic colors around us… I have had my struggles with society and their stereotype of Graffiti.. It’s not graffiti when you own it. I am an artist in The Art of Spray, Thank you for a wonderful interpretation of Spray Art and Thank you for the support and appreciation for ones individuality when it comes to expressing themselves, no matter how controversial it may be. Cosmo
Founder/Creator
Cosmo Universal Art
Dallas Texas
Hi,may I know Futuristic style can be mix with graffiti design, because I am looking for a interior design that look like the pinball game design~