Famous European Street Artists
Many European street artists have achieved an international reputation, while many also displayed their artworks in the mainstream galleries and art organisations around the world. Since there is a thin line between a street artist and criminal destroying other people’s property, most artists are known only by their pseudonym. Some have revealed their identity and began to create “legitimate” art but most of them remain a part of the “underground” scene.
Some of the greatest names in the European street art scene (excluding the UK) include:
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Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou). One of the first graffiti artists in both France and Europe also pioneered stencil graffiti. He began with his artistic career in the early 1980s in the streets of Paris. His early works were influenced greatly by the New York graffiti movement but he eventually developed a style he considered to suit better to the French capital. His identity was revealed in the early 1990s when he was arrested by the French police. After the arrest, he has been working exclusively with posters.
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Ash (Victor Ash). The French street artist started as graffiti writer in the 1980s as a part of the Parisian collective known as BBC or Badbc, the members of which have profoundly influenced the future European graffiti movement. In the late 1980s, Ash and some other members of the collective held an exhibition at the Galerie du Jour in Paris. While the earliest Ash’ graffiti reveal a major influence of the New York graffiti scene, his latest creations demonstrate a very distinct style which, however, retains the energy from the 1980s.
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Mis Van. It is the nickname of Vanessa Alice Bensimon, a French graffiti artist who entered the street art scene in the early 1990s. She attracted attention with her drawings of sloe-eyed women which, however, have also received negative responses from some feminist organisations. The artist later also started creating on canvas and exhibited in galleries all over Europe and the United States.
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Blu. The Italian artist whose identity is unknown rose to prominence in 1999 with a series of graffiti he drew in Bologna. Blu’s distinct style dates to 2001 when he moved from spray paint to house paint. In 2005, he became a part of the international street art scene and began collaborating with many notable names including the renowned Mark Jenkins, Banksy, Ron English and many others.
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Dolk. The most famous Norwegian graffiti artist is known for his pop-cultural motives which are either humorist or critical. Outside Norway, his graffiti and stencil artworks can be seen on the walls of many European capitals including London. In 2006, he started exhibiting his works in galleries and international art festivals.