Within the vibrant and ever-evolving world of urban artistry, a lexicon of 'Graffiti Terms' emerges, each phrase carrying its own narrative, history, and significance in the realm of street art.
From the fundamental expressions like 'tag,' 'throw-up,' and 'piece' to the nuanced practices of 'bombing,' 'wildstyle,' and 'sticker slap,' this glossary embodies the rich tapestry of techniques, tools, and culture embraced by graffiti artists worldwide. As a mosaic of creativity, innovation, and rebellion against conventional artistic norms, these terms reflect the diversity and depth inherent in the dynamic universe of graffiti, offering insights into the language and artistry of this underground movement.
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| Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash. |
Graffiti Terms
Abatement
The official removal or cleaning of graffiti by city or municipal authorities.
Adbusting – Or Subvertising
The creative practice of modifying and humorously altering public, corporate, or political advertisements to satirize societal issues, particularly consumerism.
All City
The status attained by a graffiti artist who gains recognition and fame across an entire city, originating from New York's five boroughs, often propagated by subway tagging.
Angel
Esteemed and respected graffiti artists who have passed away. Followers pay homage by creating tribute artworks or incorporating halos and birth/death dates in their tags.
Back to back or End to end
A monumental graffiti piece that spans a wall from one end to another, akin to artwork on the Berlin Wall's western side. On subway cars, it covers the entire length, known as B2B or E2E, sometimes called window-downs.
Bite
To plagiarize or copy another artist's art, ideas, names, or style. Often associated with "toys" (see below).
A graffiti artist's prized sketchbook containing sketches of new pieces or tags by other writers, serving as a record of their body of work and illegal works, kept hidden from authorities.
Large and bold graffiti pieces typically painted with block-style lettering and solid fills.
Roller A paint roller used by graffiti artists to cover larger areas quickly, often in single colors or base coats.
Roller A paint roller used by graffiti artists to cover larger areas quickly, often in single colors or base coats.
Bombing
The act of rapidly and prolifically applying graffiti in various locations, often characterized by quick and repetitive tags or throw-ups.
Bombing Run
A session where a graffiti artist applies multiple tags or pieces in a short amount of time, covering various locations.
Bomb Shelter
A location known for its high concentration of graffiti, often protected from removal or buffing.
Buff
To erase or cover graffiti using a single color or chemicals, often through pressure guns, sandblasting, or paint.
Buff-proof
Refers to graffiti or artwork resistant to removal or buffing, often applied using resilient or hard-to-remove paint.
Burn
To outdo a rival artist or inform on someone (intentionally or unintentionally). A "burner" refers to a complex, time-consuming, and impressive piece, often done legally.
Cannons
Slang for spray cans, possibly originating from Brooklyn, NY.
Cap
The nozzle of a spray paint can used to achieve different effects or styles in aerosol art, available in various types like Thins, Rustos, and Fatcaps.
Canslinger
A term used humorously or informally to refer to a skilled graffiti artist adept at using spray paint cans.
Civil Disobedience
Graffiti acts that challenge societal norms or authority in a non-violent manner, often associated with political or social messages.
A collective group of graffiti writers working in a similar style, engaging in collaborative pieces. Though resembling gangs in behavior, their focus is graffiti rather than serious crime.
Culture Jamming
Subverting mainstream cultural marketing and media in line with anti-consumerist social movements, often politically motivated.
Deface / Cap / Go over
To vandalize or ruin another artist's piece. Going over signifies disrespect or declaring graffiti war, often excused when improving low-quality work.
Dress-up
To entirely paint over a specific area, such as a shop window or doorway, previously free of graffiti.
Fatcap
A wide nozzle spray can cap used for filling in large areas in graffiti.
Fatcap Friday
A tradition among graffiti artists where they paint using fat caps on Fridays, celebrating wide-spray effects and larger tags or throw-ups.
Graffiti painted on moving freight trains, often providing a traveling canvas for artists.
Outlines The initial sketch or outline of a graffiti piece, serving as a framework before filling in colors or details.
Outlines The initial sketch or outline of a graffiti piece, serving as a framework before filling in colors or details.
German Montana
A brand specializing in graffiti-related products like spray cans, distinct from Spanish Montana, leading to a naming dispute between the two companies.
Ghost
A residue left after a poorly buffed graffiti removal.
Hat (honor among thieves)
A respected graffiti artist known for trustworthiness and non-snitching behavior within the graffiti community.
Head / King
A highly esteemed and respected graffiti artist in a specific area, similar to a King or Queen, recognized for skill, style, or courage.
Heaven Spot
Graffiti painted on building rooftops, often considered difficult due to difficulty in reaching and removing.
Invisible
Rare graffiti represented as quickly sketched logos.
Krylon
A once-popular brand of spray paint among writers in the 70s and 80s, renowned for its 5-spot logo, now considered a nostalgic symbol.
Landmark
A long-lasting graffiti piece in a hidden or hard-to-reach location, held in high esteem by graffiti artists.
Legals
Legal graffiti walls or designated areas where artists can paint without the risk of legal repercussions.
Lock on
Non-destructive public space sculptures secured to fixtures like light posts, considered installation art.
Married couple
Originating from New York, two subway cars permanently linked or two whole cars painted next to each other in graffiti, often connected across the gap.
Moniker
An artist's street name or nickname used for labeling graffiti.
Pichação
A celebrated graffiti style from Sao Paulo, Brazil, serving as a form of social protest and painted in difficult-to-reach locations.
Piece
Short for "masterpiece," a high-quality, intricate, and detailed graffiti artwork, usually larger and more elaborate than throw-ups or tags.
Post-graffiti
An inclusive term for street art representing modern artistic expressions.
Reverse Graffiti
Creating art by selectively cleaning or removing dirt, grime, or pollution from surfaces to form patterns or images.
Rook
A reliable and trustworthy member of a graffiti crew.
Run
Duration of time a graffiti piece remains untouched on a surface.
Slam
To do graffiti in highly visible or risky locations.
Slash
To tag over or deface another writer's piece, considered an insult akin to Cap.
Spanish Montana
A brand specializing in graffiti-related products like spray cans, distinct from German Montana, leading to a naming dispute between the two companies.
Creating graffiti by using pre-cut stencils to quickly apply designs or images onto surfaces.
Toothbrush A tool used by graffiti artists to create splatter effects or fine paint mist by running a finger or thumb over the bristles.
Toothbrush A tool used by graffiti artists to create splatter effects or fine paint mist by running a finger or thumb over the bristles.
Affixing graffiti stickers or adhesive labels to surfaces as a form of urban art.
A stylized signature or moniker of a graffiti artist, quickly applied with markers or spray paint for visibility.
A quickly executed, bubble-letter style graffiti piece, usually featuring two or three colors for fast application.
Toy
A term used for poor quality work or an inexperienced painter. "To toy" refers to going over someone else's graffiti.
Toy Tags
Amateurish, poorly executed, or uninspired graffiti tags, often indicating a beginner or inexperienced graffiti artist.
Tree
Graffiti chiseled into tree bark.
Undersides
Graffiti painted on the undersides of subway or train cars, lasting longer than usual tags.
Whole car / whole train A large graffiti piece covering the entire outside surface of a train car or a train, often collaborative and executed swiftly with limited time and colors.
Whole car / whole train A large graffiti piece covering the entire outside surface of a train car or a train, often collaborative and executed swiftly with limited time and colors.
UV Tagging
Graffiti made using ultraviolet (UV) light-reactive paint visible under blacklight or UV lighting.
Wildstyle Elaborate and complex graffiti lettering, often intertwined or stylized to make it difficult to read but visually striking.
A method of applying posters or artwork to surfaces using a mixture of water and wheat flour or starch as an adhesive.
Writer
A graffiti artist.
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Graffiti Terms