Graffiti is recognized by an increasing number of people in the art world as a form of modern, urban art. However, this recognition may also put this art form under threat as it is now losing the support of the authorities. The problem with graffiti is that it has been stigmatized because of the amount of illegal activity i.e. spraying where it is not permitted, that is associated with it. Despite the fact that it has these associations there is still the recognition that modern graffiti is rapidly developing as a discernible contemporary art form.

Some graffiti artists have made their work or their pieces so distinctive that they can be recognized on sight as the author of a particular piece – just as artists like Picasso were distinguishable for their own contemporaries in a particular art movement. Graffiti has most particularly found favour in areas where there is a large population of under privileged youth. Graffiti is a young art form and it is also a form that is mostly indulged in by young men – modern graffiti is often also associated with the musical rave of hip-hop and rap.

New forms of graffiti first emerged on the city streets of New York and has now developed from signatures to a much more intricate and rapidly establishing modern art form. In its early days in New York graffiti was tolerated by both the public and the police and this helped the art form to grow and spread to other cities and countries across the world. From the graffiti subculture of disaffected and rebellious young men there has emerged an exciting and contemporary art form that is becoming known as modern graffiti.

The graffiti subculture is closely connected to the music subculture of hip-hop. These two things are sometimes so closely intertwined that those who engage in graffiti art are also engaged in hip-hop music, while the musicians may also be burgeoning graffiti artists. While all of this began among youths who felt themselves cast aside in modern America the movement of graffiti artists is one that encompasses people from all races and classes.

One problem with the rise of modern graffiti has been the indiscriminate use of other people’s property for their canvas (at least by some graffiti artists) and so various penalties have been invoked (including the sale and use of spray paints) to try and stem the spread of graffiti. It would be a pity if such legislation brought about an end to this art form altogether as more and more members of the established artistic community are recognizing the artistic merit of modern graffiti.

Authority’s attitude to graffiti have given it an undertone associated with crime and drug use. This is an undertone that is untrue of the vast majority of graffiti artists, rather graffiti is sometimes the creative outlet that prevents young people becoming involved with drugs and petty crime. Modern graffiti needs more recognition as an art form in its own right – which means that there should be some publicly funded means of using this particular type of creative expression.