We are pleased to announce STREET ART REVOLUTION – from Warhol to Banksy: the (true) history of Urban Art!
The exhibition is open from September 28, 2024 to March 2, 2025 at Palazzo Tarasconi in Parma.
The Street Art Revolution exhibition tells the story of one of the most contemporary and controversial art movements: Urban Art. Internationally renowned artists such as Banksy, Keith Haring, Blek le Rat, Obey, Andy Warhol and many others are the protagonists of an exhibit that celebrates the evolution of Street Art and its languages.
The exhibition, which opens to the public on 28 September at Palazzo Tarasconi in Parma, focuses on how Street Art has revolutionised the art world, challenging traditional conventions and bringing art directly to the people. This art form has democratised access to creativity: by using walls in cities, it has made artworks visible to everyone, regardless of social or economic background. In addition, Street Art addresses urgent and controversial issues, such as social justice, political oppression and economic inequality, becoming a powerful voice for social change. Using innovative techniques and provocative messages, street artists have been and continue to be able to influence public perception, stimulate public debate and inspire collective action.
We all know the great street artists, but few know how the art movement began: how did it go from graffiti on the New York subway to Banksy’s world-famous walls? Street Art Revolution is a not to be missed opportunity for all those who want to discover the world of Street Art through the artworks of its main exponents. Curated by Giuseppe Pizzuto and the Wunderkammern gallery, under the artistic direction of Luca Bravo, the exhibition is a visual and conceptual journey through the places and artists that have shaped this global movement.
‘One of the most disruptive, revolutionary exhibitions ever. An exhibition project that puts the viewer in dialogue with works of unprecedented media and thematic power. Warhol, Banksy, Obey, just some of the authors who have crossed the boundaries between art, symbolism and virality. We recognise in them something terribly true, incisive, real. Even if we don’t fully admit it to ourselves‘. – Luca Bravo
The exhibition itinerary begins with a section dedicated to Andy Warhol, the pioneer of Pop Art, whose influence on Street Art is undeniable. Warhol, with his concept of reproducibility and his vision of art as provocation, laid the foundations for many urban artists, turning art into a means of social criticism accessible to all. It continues with Keith Haring, whose outdoor interventions and ‘Subway Drawings’ set off the transformation of New York’s streets and subways into spaces of artistic expression. His works are characterised by stylised figures and social messages. They have become symbols of a new artistic era.
The next section is also set in the Big Apple of the early 1980s with JonOne, one of the first and leading exponents of Graffiti Art, who has the great merit of bringing graffiti from Harlem (NY) to Paris and from the street to the canvas. Passing through JonOne, we arrive on the European scene, where Blek le Rat and, shortly afterwards, Jef Aérosol changed the face of French cities with their innovative stencils. Considered the father of Stencil Art, Blek le Rat with his famous ‘rat’, a symbol of rebellion and the pervasiveness of urban art, has influenced generations of artists including Banksy. The acclaimed British artist brought Stencil Art from Europe to the world stage with his provocative and socially conscious works. His creations have become iconic, defining Street Art as a powerful form of political and social expression.
It is impossible to talk about art and activism without mentioning Shepard Fairey, aka Obey. His artworks – including his famous portrait of Barack Obama, ‘Hope’, and his campaigns for rights and environmental protection – have had a powerful impact on popular culture and politics.
The exhibition goes on with the ‘European Wave’, bringing to the public’s attention contemporary artists such as D*Face, Invader, Alexandre Farto aka Vhils e The London Police. These artists have taken Street Art to new heights with distinctive styles and innovative techniques. They are joined by PichiAvo, who combine classical aesthetics with the language of tags to create works that fuse past and present in a fascinating visual dialogue. Unique and limited edition pieces by Mr Brainwash and Pure Evil, artists who bring a pop touch to Street Art, with artworks that recall Warhol’s work and add a contemporary commentary on celebrity culture and society.
Finally, the exhibition dedicates a section to Italian artists who have made their mark on the international scene. From Sten Lex with his stencil poster technique to Microbo and Bo130, Hogre, Orticanoodles and Biancoshock with his provocative installations, Italy has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of Street Art.
The viewers will have the opportunity to explore the vibrant world of Street Art, from its humble beginnings on the streets of New York to its consecration as a global art movement.
‘This exhibition is meant to be a journey into Street Art, a subject that is much talked about and seen on the web, in newspapers, on social media, etc., but about which little is known and its impact is difficult to fully understand. If, as Wim Wenders suggests, ‘America has colonised our unconscious’, hip hop has colonised our visual images of cities. We all associate something with graffiti and tags, posters and stencils, murals and urban sculptures. It is surprising how many things get mixed up when we try to talk and think about Street Art. Concepts of vandalism, legality, advertising, regeneration, art, muralism, marketing, communication, urban decay all come into play. All because of the strange signs that, from a certain point in time, have started to appear on the walls of our cities in an increasingly powerful and overpowering way. We are still far from finding a synthesis. The only thing we cannot do today is to ignore it‘. – Giuseppe Pizzuto
Artuu Magazine is Media partner of the exhibition Street Art Revolution, from Warhol to Banksy: the (true) history of Urban Art. The exhibition has the patronage of the Municipality of Parma.
Technical Sponsor: BIG Broker Insurance Group / CiaccioArte
Ticketing: TicketOne
