GRAFFITI, LETTERS AND STYLES

Graffiti is an artistic movement that has evolved considerably in just over 50 years of existence.

We are not talking about Graffiti as a phenomenon that has spanned the history of humanity and simply consisted of writing a message, a word or a symbol on a wall. We are talking about Graffiti as an initiative of individuals who began to highlight their name, often fictitious, in public areas, in large, even very large format and, above all, who began to stylize it. The underlying motivations for their approach may have been diverse, but the common goal was to be seen, to exist in a society that prevented them from doing so.

This "stylization" of spray-painted letters in color has taken on a phenomenal scale and has pushed each protagonist to develop and assert their own creative axes. The letter, the name, have remained the heart of Graffiti. The years have passed, but creativity has remained. Initiated by young people, flexibility and ingenuity have remained inseparable elements of Graffiti.

In 2025, Street Art is often the name of the term used when discussing paintings and works created in the street, on buildings, or elsewhere. Although Graffiti can in some ways be considered a variation of Street Art, it is essential in the art world and for general knowledge to understand that Graffiti and Street Art are two distinct worlds.

However, it seems that the increase in interventions, performances and Street Art works have contributed in some aspects to nourishing the Graffiti scene with technical and graphic contributions.

The letter, the starting and ending point of Graffiti, has remained the founding element of this movement, carrying within itself its codes and its aesthetics which can seem difficult to access for the uninitiated.

What is graffiti and what is it not? What has become of it today? What validity and legitimacy does this movement have in the art world?

The Graffiti, Letters and Styles exhibition presents an overview, without claiming to be exhaustive, of what “Graffiti” could be in 2025. Seven artists present their personal contribution to this movement through new and original works on three unique canvas formats.

Throughout the events that mark this exhibition, you will discover how the common starting point, namely the letter, has evolved around successive concepts inherent to each.