Cultural Expressions : Stencil Graffiti

By mercedesproulx
  • 3000 BCE

    Stone Ages

    Stone Ages
    Stencil graffiti can be traced back to the stone ages as communities would use rocks and sticks to paint shapes to express themselves.
  • 78 BCE

    Roman Empire

    Roman Empire
    Graffiti began popping up in Roman Empire cities, especially Pompeii. Citizens would paint about desires such as wine and money.

  • Aerosol Invention

    Aerosol Invention
    The first Aerosol can was invented by Erik Rotheim, a Norwegian chemical engineer, changing the technology of street art as patents were sold worldwide.

  • Ernest Pignon

    Ernest Pignon
    Stencil graffiti really took off in the 1960’s by French artist Ernest Pignon as he created stenciled art of a nuclear bomb victim in relation to the war going on. He made urban art that provoked poetic emotion and has since become an icon in the likes of graffiti fans.

  • New York

    New York
    Art appears outside trains all over the world, specifically in New York. People started experimenting with art styles. Many people who are a part of punk culture join in even if they are not artists. They tag their names on the street.

  • Blek Le Rat

    Blek Le Rat
    Blek Le Rat was one of the first street artists in his area. His paintings began appearing all over Paris, influenced by the graffiti art in New York City. He is nicknamed the father of stencil graffiti for his famous works such as “Escaping Paris” and “Love America.”

  • Europe

    Europe
    More stencil graffiti is shown in Eastern Europe influenced by the fall of the Iron Curtain and the decline in activity from the USSR.

  • Popularity Rise

    Popularity Rise
    Stencil graffiti starts appearing in galleries, becomes more popular in small communities to voice their opinions on important world issues and is celebrated in festivals. Graffiti became banned in many countries during this time as it is seen as a crime.

  • Modernization

    Modernization
    Graffiti is used as a social political protest and a rebellion against the government as it is illegal in many places. However, it is more popular than ever. Graffiti art from the dawn of time is frowned upon. Artists use stencil graffiti as a way to produce as many meaningful pieces as fast as people can paint over them.