Banksy gave his target audience what they wanted. What did they want? The answer is simple. His early admirers wanted affordable artwork that contained a social message they could sink their teeth into. He filled BOTH needs - he did not care about what other artists, collectors, and galleries were doing. He focused on HIS audience... and it paid off. The popularity of Banksy's artwork - spurred by a legion of dedicated fans - eventually forced prominent art galleries to see what all of the fuss was about. His artwork is now worth millions... BUT his target audience is still intact - still 'fueling' his name. [...]

I would suggest that the current direction in graffiti art -- at least the institutionally critiqued version -- can be described as a selfish act. It is a thirst for fame and fortune, rather than a tool for facilitating real change... it is a market ploy rather than a tool for exposing social struggles -- a chunk of culture reduced to a mere gimmick. I refuse to defend that. I won't. [...]

Garrick Marchena is a graphic artist, painter, and art director from the island of Curacao. [...]

Vandalog has quickly risen to become one of the most visited street art blogs in the world. With a stable of contributing and guest writers Vandalog offers up to date information about street art -- as the blog declares, if something matters in the world of street art, you can read about it on Vandalog. [...]

Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou) has been described in many ways... some call him "the man who gave birth to Banksy.", others -- "the grandfather of street art". Most within the global street art community fondly address Blek as the "original stencil pioneer", "The old man of street art", or the "modern street art messiah". In fact, it often seems that street artists rising in popularity look to Blek for a nod of approval... like a son or daughter who desires his/her father to be proud. [...]

In 2008 the political rhetoric of hope, change, and promises lit a powder keg of support for Obama within the U.S. art community -- artists ranging from college art students to the likes of street artist Shepard Fairey made their support clear. Art for Obama and art for change reigned. I'm not certain that we will see that same level of support from the art community again... and if we do, I wonder if it will be for a different presidential candidate. [...]

The artist who routinely states that individuals should "question everything" obviously did not like it when his wife answered a question. As I've said before in my criticism of Shepard Fairey-- people will continue to question the artist who says to "question everything". After this incident the answers may be very difficult for Fairey to come up with. The main question being-- "Is Shepard Fairey still a legitimate Street Artist?". [...]

Mark Jenkins went on to tell me that the struggle over public space is a "battleground"-- with government officials, corporate advertisers, and street artists all striving to capture the attention of the public. Battleground or not, legal or not-- the break from visual monotony is a worthwhile addition to the daily grind that so many of us experience in our travels. One thing is for certain-- Jenkins will continue to utilize his societal/street 'stage'. I always look forward to the next act. [...]

Of the 500+ artists I've interviewed over the last decade I must say that the artists who associate themselves with the street art scene were some of the most lively characters I came into contact with. Obviously these individuals appeared to have a rebellious attitude about them-- but they also had a distinct seriousness of thought and process that I believe people often fail to attribute to this direction of art. [...]