art crime

When most people think of graffiti taggers they might instinctively picture ‘young punk, gang members’ with nothing better to do. The typical stereotypes abound. And while these so-called ‘punks’ may be responsible for much of the graffiti tags spread around every country in the world, many taggers do not fit into these stereotypical descriptions.

Many are very talented artists, some classically trained at the best art schools in the world. Some are middle-aged, or at least in their 20s and 30s. Many do not support illegal activities, and instead, strive to make their work legally-marketable.

Here are a few examples of taggers who break the mold –

While this woman was arrested for posting illegal tags, she hardly fits the typical mold: 43-years-old and female. Despite what you might first believe, many graffiti artists are women — and very talented women at that.

A 36-year-old New York man, Craig Costello, tag name Krink, hasn’t painted graffiti illegally in years, but he has found a way to make his skills marketable. Under the Krink brand, he sells a line of quality inks and markers, his artwork and merchandise. Want more information or a peak at his work? See his Web site: krink.com.

Malcolm Mobutu Smith, now an associate professor of ceramic arts at Indiana University, began his interest in graffiti at age 12.

And, of course, no list of non-traditional graffiti artists would be complete without mentioning Banksy. His work often features politically or socially charged messages and he makes top dollar by auctioning his work.