By Stuart Bagshaw and David Oates / Paperback, 144 pages, Prestel

The art of graffiti is alive and well in this English city by the sea, where the city and artists are working together to turn what was considered a public nuisance into a legitimate and treasured part of the Brighton experience. In page after page of powerful images, the authors present a pictorial evolution of street art, displaying an incredible range of styles and talents.

This book documents the history of Brighton Graffiti, from the first crude tags that were meant to defile to the dazzling murals painted on the seawalls which extend along the coast, drawing graffiti crews from all over the world. These photographs are interspersed with quotes from the most important graffiti artists who have worked in Brighton. What emerges is an inspiring example of graffiti as a valid, respected, and treasured art form within the town.

For more than two decades, Brighton, England’s graffiti scene has thrived. At first, the art form was banned, confining it to the walls of deserted buildings and train tracks. Over time, the city council embraced this underground expression, sponsoring murals and offering free youth classes on graffiti techniques. Now, Brighton is considered a Mecca for graffiti artists.

In Brighton Graffiti, Bagshaw and Oates have compiled photographs that document the evolution of the movement. These photos depict a variety of graffiti styles and artists. Additionally, quotes from Brighton artists are included on many of the pages, giving the images perspective and insight.

Preston has published several urban-art books, most recently Paris Street Art by Romuald Stivine and Vito Del Forte and Berlin Street Art 2 by Sven Zimmerman. These books showcase the most innovative street art in both cities – from a heart-shaped Parisian stoplight to an astronaut stencil adorning a Berlin apartment building.

Original in concept and design, this living history of the graffiti movement mimics the actual sketchbooks graffiti artists use to perfect their work before it goes public.

Before it hits the wall, graffiti is often painstakingly planned out in a sketchbook or piece book. Well-worn and dog-eared, these books are passed along from artist to artist as a way of sharing ideas and offering instruction. Here hundreds of drawings, most of them never before published, are reproduced on uncoated paper to resemble the pages of an authentic piecebook. Bold and beautiful works from graffiti history s most important sources or seeds Zephyr, Dondi, Daze, CRASH, Lady Pink, T-Kid, CAP and Ghost, among others represent a dizzying array of techniques. The authors, former graffiti practitioners themselves, offer biographies of the artists and an introductory essay on why piecebooks have become such valuable historical records. Fans of graffiti will find this Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers an irresistible inside look at how their favorite artists perfected their talents.

Books: Graffiti World / Graffiti Women: Street Art from the Five Continents
Author: Nicholas Ganz-Editor

Although not a work of fiction, Graffiti Women is an important art exposé pertaining strictly to works by female graffiti artists.

One of my friends sent this to me and I feel it is a valid and fascinating collection of urban and contemporary artists in a field that is riddled with misunderstandings within much of mainstream society.

In addition, the Chester Fritz Library houses the book’s counterpart: Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents – also edited by Nicholas Ganz. Both are aesthetically beautiful.

You can buy both books in a special set for Amazon.com shoppers: Graffiti World/Graffiti Women Two-Pack.

In the past on our site was also hosted a review for Street World: Urban Art and Culture from Five Continents. You might want to check that out, too.

Please, share this link and this book with your tagging colleagues. They also have a pdf version available for printing.

See more about this here.

Later edit: if the above link doesn’t work download the FREE graffiti coloring book from our site then print it. Simple as that :D