Graffiti has been around for decades, and while some people may see it as vandalism, others view it as a form of art. If you are a fan of street art and looking for inspiration, social media accounts of famous graffiti artists are a great way to explore and discover new ideas.
In this article, will introduce you to a list of the top 10 famous graffiti artists to follow in 2024. So, if you are looking to find Instagram influencers and creators who share their artwork, make sure to read this blog.
Top 10 Famous Graffiti Artists To Follow
Are you looking for the most famous graffiti artists to check their work? Here are some of the most known and top selling artists on Instagram.
1. Banksy
Without any doubt, one of the famous graffiti artists is Banksy who decided to hide his identity. Banksy is an England-based street artist, political activist, and film director whose been active since the 1990s. His artworks were noticed for combining dark humor with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique.
Banksy showcases his artwork on surfaces that are publicly visible, including walls and self-made physical props. These days Banksy is no longer selling photographs or reproductions of his street graffiti, his public ‘installations’ are frequently resold, sometimes even by dismantling the wall they were painted on.
2. Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary artist, activist, and founder of OBEY clothing line, born in 1970. He is one of the best-known and most famous graffiti artists who designed many famous art pieces. In 1989 he designed the ‘Andre the Giant Has a Posse’ (…OBEY…) sticker campaign while attending the Rhode Island School of Design which was the starting point of his fame.
However, most people know him from designing the Barack Obama ‘Hope’ poster for the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Some other famous artworks designed by him are:
- Obey, Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, France
- On Our Hands, Jacob Lewis Gallery, New York, NY
- Shepard Fairey, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
- This is Your God, Six Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- Future Mosaic, Opera Gallery, Dubai
3. Dondi
Another known name on the list of graffiti famous artists is Dondi. Donald Joseph White was an American artist born in 1961 in Brooklyn. He is one of the famous NYC graffiti artists who died at a young age in 1998 when he was only 37. In the 1970s, he started focusing on designing graffiti.
As he progressed, he started using ‘NACO’ and ‘DONDI’ as his tags and focused on refining his style. Over time, he moved away from simple tagging and began creating more intricate pieces. Even though he didn’t live that much, he designed some iconic works such as:
- Children of the Grave Parts 1, 2 and 3,
- Dark Continent,
- Ghosts.
4. Os Gemeos
If you are a fan of street art, you have probably heard the name of Os Gemeos as they are one of the most famous graffiti artists. Gêmeos is the Portuguese word for The Twins and OS Gemeo refers to identical twin street artists Otavio Pandolfo and Gustavo Pandolfo born in 1974. These brothers started their work in break dance but eventually got involved in graffiti.
Most of their works are notable for using the yellow color and adding Brazilian cultural elements and influences into their graffiti. But that didn’t make their success by itself; In 2013, they collaborated with luxury brand Louis Vuitton to design a scarf, alongside artist Retna and Lady Aiko. This helped them get noticed by other fashion brands and artists.
Some of their best art pieces are:
- 2007: Waking Up Nights, de Pury & Luxembourg, Zurich.
- 2011: Street Art – meanwhile in deepest east anglia, thunderbirds were go…, Von der Heydt-Museum, Kunsthalle Barmen, Wuppertal DE.
- 2012: OSGEMEOS, Miss You, Prism, West Hollywood, CA
- 2014: OSGEMEOS. A Ópera Da Lua, Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo
5. Lady K
Now, it’s time to introduce you to one of the famous graffiti artists from France. Lady K is a French artist who started painting when she was a little girl and now she has tried different methods and techniques. In 1990, she found her main passion in graffiti and now she is a member of the famous international crew 156 with artists such as Jonone, Psychoze, André, Os Gemeos, etc.
Lady K (Jessica Balota) has some notable creations such as:
- Collective exhibition TAG (tag and graf) at the Grand Palais, Paris (March 27-May 3, 2009)
- Femin’art , Première station gallery ( Palais-Royal metro ), Paris (nd2006)
- Street, at the Grand Palais, Paris (October 2006)
- Level 1 – Tournai Architecture Night (April 19, 2014)
- Espace Bazacle, collective exhibition, Toulouse, (nd2015)
- Urban – Street Art, Le Comœdia art gallery in Brest, group exhibition, 10 women
6. Blu
The next artist wants to keep his real identity away from the public, but his artwork makes him stand out as a famous street graffiti artist. This Italian artist was born in Senigallia. He lives in Bologna and has been active in street art since 1999. The majority of Blu’s graffiti is In Italy (both illegal and legal.)
In 2007 Blu went to London for the first time where he made many pieces around Camden Town. Also, between 2006-2009, he worked in Germany on many occasions, mostly in Berlin. He got invited to Vienna in 2010 and painted a mural at the Danube River harbor near Albern in Simmering.
7. Lady Pink
Sandra Fabara (known as Lady Pink) is the most famous female graffiti artists who was nicknamed as the ‘first lady of graffiti’. She was born in 1964 in Ambato, Ecuador, and moved to NYC when she was seven. She started her career in graffiti when she was 15 and studied at the Manhattan High School of Art and Design.
In 1980, she created the all-female graffiti crew Ladies of the Arts. In most of her artworks, we can see themes of New York City Subway trains and POP-surrealist cityscapes. Some of her most-known paintings are:
- The Black Dude (1983)
- China, One Child Only (1992)
- Brick Lady in Spray (1993)
- Queen Matilda (2007)
- Urban Decay (2008)
8. Futura 2000
Leonard Hilton McGurr known as Futura is an American graffiti artist born in 1995. Futura is one of the famous new york graffiti artists who started to paint illegally on New York City’s subway in the 1970s. While since the 1980s, most graffiti artists were lettering but Futura became the pioneer of abstract street art.
Hilton also designs his own clothing under the label Futura Laboratories with a store located in Fukuoka, Japan. Some of his best collections are:
- Collection de la Société Générale, New York
- Fonds Municipal d´Art Contemporain de la Ville de Paris, Paris
- Musée de Vire, Vire, France
- Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
9. Cope 2
Fernando Carlo (also known as Cope2) is one of the famous NYC graffiti artists who has been active since 1985. He is a well-known artist in the US as he is one of the founders of the New York City graffiti art scene. Also, he has worked with some brands including Adidas, Footlocker, Converse, and Time Magazine.
Some of Cope2’s commercial artworks have been sold at Christie’s for $1000 USD per painting.
10. Daze
Chris Ellis, known as DAZE, is a graffiti artist from the United States born in 1962. In the mid 1970s, when he was a high school student, he began writing graffiti in the New York City subway. In 1981, his work was featured in the Mudd Club group which was the starting point of his career as a professional artist.
His artwork has been displayed in different places such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Groninger Museum, the Ludwig Museum in Aachen, Germany, the Museum of the City of New York, and New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of art or an artist who’s looking for new fields to try, graffiti is one of the best ideas. In this article, we’ve introduced you to some of the most famous graffiti artists on social media in 2024 that you can check and get inspired. Each of these artists has their own unique techniques and style.
FAQs
Graffiti art is a form of visual expression that involves creating artwork on public surfaces, such as walls, buildings, or streets. It is often characterized by its vibrant colors, bold designs, and the use of urban landscapes as canvases for artistic self-expression.
Yes, graffiti artists are considered legitimate artists by many in the art world. Over the years, graffiti has gained recognition as a valid and unique form of artistic expression. Some graffiti artists have even transitioned into gallery exhibitions and commercial projects.
Graffiti artists can gain recognition on social media by consistently creating and sharing their artwork on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Engaging with the art community, using relevant hashtags, and collaborating with other artists can also help boost their online presence.
You can support graffiti artists by following them on social media, attending their exhibitions and events, purchasing their artwork, or commissioning them for projects. Supporting their work helps artists continue their creative journey.
