Big Art

Back in 1984, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had a graffiti problem. People were illegally spray-painting the city’s walls. Local artist Jane Golden came up with an unusual solution: Team up graffiti-makers with professional artists to paint murals on buildings with the owners’ permission. This eventually led to Mural Arts Philadelphia, a program that works in collaboration with communities to transform their public spaces into canvases for works of art. Since 1984, Mural Arts has created more than 4,000 murals throughout the city.

And it’s not just Philadelphia. Murals have been popping up in cities such as New York, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Building owners eagerly invite famous street artists, like Shepard Fairey and Os Gemeos, to turn their bare walls into beautiful works of art. 

Back in 1984, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had a graffiti problem. People were illegally spray-painting the city’s walls. Local artist Jane Golden came up with an unusual solution. She suggested that graffiti-makers and professional artists work together. The teams would paint murals on buildings with the owners’ permission. This project led to a program called Mural Arts Philadelphia. It works with communities to transform their public spaces. Blank walls are turned into works of art. Since 1984, Mural Arts has created more than 4,000 murals throughout the city.

Philadelphia isn’t the only city covered with murals. New York, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and Los Angeles all are too. Many of these murals are painted by famous street artists. These artists include Shepard Fairey and Os Gemeos. 

Most mural artists start with small sketches. But how do they translate that onto a large wall? New York street artist BK Foxx explains: “Painting a big wall is really the same as painting a small canvas, because proportions are still relative to each other. On a canvas, the increments of measure are inches; on a wall, it’s feet.”

BK, who has been spray-painting murals since 2013, often starts with a photograph of the actual wall to determine the dimensions for her template. She then takes a picture of the subject she wants to paint and uses Photoshop to superimpose it on the wall photo. Then she prints the image on an 8.5-by-11-inch paper for reference. Before painting, BK marks the center of the wall with a little cross. She then makes more marks to divide the wall into quarters, eighths, sixteenths, and so on. She marks up her printed image in the same way to keep perspective.

This method proved useful when she painted her biggest mural to date, which was 100 feet tall. “When I discovered I could make these really cool images that were so much bigger than myself, I just wanted to keep doing it,” says BK. “Even now, I want to paint bigger and bigger each time.”

Most mural artists start with small sketches. But how do they translate a small sketch onto a large wall? According to New York street artist BK Foxx, “Painting a big wall is really the same as painting a small canvas. The proportions are still relative to each other.” A canvas is measured in inches. A wall, however, is measured in feet.

BK has used spray paint to make murals since 2013. She usually starts with a photograph of the actual wall. The photo helps her determine the dimensions of her sketch. She then takes a picture of the subject she wants to paint. BK then uses Photoshop to superimpose, or layer, her subject on to the wall photo. Then she prints the image on an 8.5- by 11-inch paper for reference. Before starting her mural, BK marks the center of the wall with a little cross. She then makes more marks to divide the wall into quarters, eighths, sixteenths, and so on. She makes the same marks on her printed image. This helps her keep the image and the painting in proportion. 

She painted her biggest mural yet using this method. It was 100 feet tall! "When I discovered I could make these really cool images that were so much bigger than myself, I just wanted to keep doing it," says BK. "Even now, I want to paint bigger and bigger each time."

Last October, this tribute to 1980s hip-hop was completed by street-art duo Os Gemeos. They are twin brothers from Brazil, and their name means “The Twins” in Portuguese. This piece is actually a pair of murals on opposite-facing walls. It’s easy to spot a work by Os Gemeos because most of their murals feature stylized characters and playful imagery.

The street-art duo Os Gemeos are twin brothers from Brazil. Their name means “The Twins” in Portuguese. Last October, they finished this tribute to 1980s hip-hop. This piece is actually a pair of murals on opposite-facing walls. It’s easy to spot a work by Os Gemeos. Most of their murals feature stylized characters and playful imagery. 

Shepard Fairey might be best known for designing the “Hope” poster for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. But he’s also painted murals around the world.  

This is Fairey’s most recent mural, which he completed last September. It blends his graphic style with images that have connections to the community.

“Art in public spaces is exciting because it keeps people from having to go to a gallery or a museum,” Fairey told the Los Angeles Times. “Maybe it reels some people in to being excited about art.”

Shepard Fairey designed the "Hope" poster for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. It’s his best-known piece. But he’s also painted murals around the world. 

This is Fairey’s most recent mural. He completed it last September. It blends his graphic style with images that have connections to the community.

Fairey told the Los Angeles Times that art in public spaces is exciting. It means people don’t have to go to galleries or museums to see it. "Maybe it reels some people in to being excited about art," he says.

Ten years ago, the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami was an industrial warehouse district. Today, the six buildings that make up Wynwood Walls are a destination for street artists and tourists. More than 50 artists from around the world have covered the 80,000 square feet of walls with their art.

Developer Tony Goldman, who created Wynwood Walls, was a big fan of street art. He knew that these warehouse walls—that all had no windows—would be the perfect canvases for an outdoor gallery of street art. Now, Wynwood Walls invites new artists to create new murals every year.

Ten years ago, the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami was an industrial warehouse district. Today, Wynwood Walls are a destination for street artists and tourists. Wynwood Walls is the name for six buildings covered with murals. More than 50 artists from around the world have covered the 80,000 square feet of walls with their art.

Developer Tony Goldman is a big fan of street art. He created Wynwood Walls. The warehouse walls had no windows. Goldman knew they would be the perfect canvases for an outdoor gallery of street art. Now, Wynwood Walls invites new artists to create new murals every year.