How World Graffiti Unites Cultures: A Global Canvas of Expression

Highlights of the graffiti art form are cultural representations of the areas in which they appear.

Spray paint is the primary tool of graffiti artists. Photo by Matthew Bamberg

“I was always totally amazed that the people I would meet while I was doing them (graffiti) were really, really concerned with what they meant.”—Keith Haring

Coffee? Why not! Writers work hard.

Graffiti is a powerful medium that transcends borders, uniting cultures through shared messages, experiences, and emotions. The alternative art form is a stunning reminder of the human condition, whether in good times or bad.

The fact is that graffiti art has a history, but that’s not what I’m writing about. I want to tell the story of how graffiti is cultural. It’s a historical record. Many works tell a story of how the history and culture of a place affect its graffiti.

Few consider graffiti beautiful, but those few have made some of it a hot commodity.

As a graffiti enthusiast, I never miss a good piece of it sprayed on walls worldwide. I have snapped pictures of it for over two decades, some defying the imagination.

One…