Graffiti, Art? Or Vandalism?

A growing trend in the art world is a form of art called graffiti. When you walk around a big city anywhere in the United States you will most likely see examples of graffiti, from large abstract murals to small collections of letters smeared on walls. Graffiti can be seen as a beautiful form of art when done legally. However, when graffiti is used in the wrong ways it can be a serious crime, for which others end up paying the price of someone else’s art.

A major flaw in the graffiti community that can be overlooked is “the fact that most graffiti is placed on private property without the owner’s permission” (Source 1) making graffiti more of an illegitimate art. When graffiti is done on another’s property it is not seen as a positive work of art. Homeowners and businesses are often left having to pay for and clean up a mess they didn’t make. Which is not only unfair but also leaves a negative stigma on the graffiti community as a whole. Rather than ruining and defacing others, property graffiti artists could look for permission to create their art rather than doing so illegally. As well as defacing private property “graffiti vandals often shoplift their materials, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.” (Source 4) When materials such as spray paint and paint markers are stolen from businesses that is an additional cost to business owners. Graffiti not only costs people money to clean up a surprise mural they didn’t wish for, but graffiti also incites stealing the materials necessary from private businesses. Further showing how graffiti can be a crime

Graffiti is not only harmful to private property it is also harmful to public property. This changes the consequences others face thanks to selfish so-called “artists”. Graffiti not only costs private individuals, but in the public domain, it costs taxpayer dollars which costs everyone else. In several U.S. states such as New York, Maine, Chicago, and even Nebraska. Often those who live in large cities pay the price for graffiti artists who deface public property “Large cities typically budget more money toward graffiti removal.” (Source 4) When cities have to budget large amounts to remove graffiti it takes away from the cities’ ability to fund other more important programs. “Chicago budgets $6.5 million while Omaha, Nebraska spends about $100,000 annually” (Source 4) All that money wasted to remove graffiti could be used to better children’s education or could better public transportation, or give fire departments and police officers more equipment. But instead of spending the money where it is needed, it has to be used to remove large amounts of unwanted graffiti.

Graffiti is a crime. Plain and simple, it costs others money whether it be a homeowner having to pay to get a wall repainted or a small business owner having to restock stolen paints. Or costing large cities valuable money that could be used to help others who need it. However, graffiti is still a beautiful and impressive art form, that could be admired if practiced correctly. Until graffiti artists get permission to paint where they paint and buy the materials they need. They won’t be seen as artists, they will be seen as vandals.

Featured Image; “Graffiti Art” by Bytemarks is licensed under CC BY 2.0.