#AcceptAllArt

We accept ALL art!

Grafitti - Art or Vandalism?

47%

1,798 deviants said Either

46%

1,750 deviants said Art

262 deviants said Vandalism

Devious Comments

~TheLordoftheRing96 May 8, 2013 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Depends on where it is done. If it is on public property, it is vandalism, if it is your own property, it CAN be art. Depends on the content.

~Laugh-ter May 3, 2013

It really depends on what the message is. More people would see graffiti with a positive message art, but graffiti with a negative message vandalism.

~iThinkInFast May 2, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

mmh... well... either, probably?

~dilhermandodidi Apr 16, 2013 Professional Traditional Artist

Only when they do not agree and are swearing, damaging old buildings. but it is art, there are very artists who do very well.

~Davey-R Apr 7, 2013 Student General Artist

if its thought out and artistic then art, if its a sloppy tag, insult or pointlessly offensive then graffitti, however if you pay taxes and its onstate property then why now leave the nice stuff up?

~Rainbow-Dash197 Mar 29, 2013 New member Student General Artist

Graffiti can be both art and vandalism, it's vandalism if its prohibited in the area, if the owner doesn't want it, or if the owner doesn't know your doing it. It's an art otherwise, I call the legal graffiti "The Urban Masterpieces"

~Pwellings Mar 28, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

if the owner considers it vandalism and it's in an inappropriate place then it's vandalism. I personally wouldn't like someone to graffiti my wall without my permission. But I think it's still art.

=AzzurraAnthrax Mar 18, 2013 Student General Artist

Depends if the person has permission to do it or not

*BritLawrence Mar 11, 2013 Photographer

_{I don't consider meaningless gang signs, racial slurs / hate speech or vandalism on memorials/monuments/headstones art. I consider THAT graffiti.

But this "graffiti" that is considered "art" by many / what comes to most peoples minds when they think "art that isn't graffiti" isn't "graffiti" in my terms, really, it's "street art" or a "mural" for example. So, with this kind of thing, if it's considered and called "graffiti" by the majority it is vandalism, if it is considered street art or a mural etc, it is art. You wouldn't call that graffiti, would you?

This being said, and I think I'm making a big point here, political or activist graffiti (that is NOT hate speech, bigotry or bullying) has been used as a tool to get a message across to the masses even just a small community... IS ART, and has and can be seen as very rude / unsightly / distasteful to others, yet it is very effective and can send a huge political/social/emotional message. This is one of the biggest examples of TRUE art in my opinion. Not ALL art is loved. But strong criticism from both sides is what defines true art. Art is one of the most useful tools we as humans have.}