On May 18, 2024, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) opened Graffiti in the Golden State, an ambitious exhibition dedicated to exploring the history and evolution of street art in California. The exhibit, which runs through September, showcases more than 50 works from some of the most influential graffiti artists who have shaped the street art scene over the past several decades. With roots in Los Angeles and other major cities in the state, California has long been a hotbed for the development of street art as a form of social commentary, rebellion, and artistic expression.
LACMA Curator of Contemporary Art, Sarah Kim, highlighted the importance of the exhibit in addressing the growing recognition of graffiti as a legitimate form of art. “Graffiti has long been misunderstood and criminalized, but it’s an essential part of California’s urban culture,” Kim said in her opening remarks. “We are proud to showcase these artists and their contributions to not only California’s artistic landscape but to global contemporary art movements.”
The exhibit includes works from iconic figures such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and local LA-based artists like Retna and Revok, whose distinctive styles have helped redefine the relationship between public space and artistic expression. One of the standout pieces, City of Tags, a large mural by Retna, spans an entire wall of the museum, inviting visitors to engage with the artwork as if they were in the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Retna’s use of stylized script, combining traditional calligraphy with modern graffiti techniques, is showcased as a key example of how street art has evolved into a sophisticated and globally recognized art form.
Another key piece in the exhibit is The Roots of Resistance, a series of photographs by renowned street photographer Martha Cooper, who has documented street art around the world. Cooper’s photographs, many of which were taken in the early 2000s, provide an intimate look at the artists behind the murals and tags that populate California’s urban spaces. Her work is celebrated for capturing the underground nature of street art, often highlighting the challenges and risks that come with creating art in public spaces.
The exhibition also dives into the cultural significance of graffiti, especially in the context of Los Angeles’ own history with gang culture and political activism. Several murals displayed at the exhibition, such as Voices of Change by artist Judy Baca, reflect the social and political movements that have shaped the city. Baca, whose works have often depicted themes of social justice and human rights, spoke at the exhibition’s opening about the role of graffiti in amplifying voices that have historically been marginalized. “Street art has always been a space for marginalized communities to express their identities and fight against systemic oppression,” Baca said.
The opening of Graffiti in the Golden State marks an important moment in the art world, as it encourages visitors to reconsider their understanding of graffiti as a purely rebellious or destructive force. Instead, the exhibit frames it as a powerful art form that reflects the complexity and diversity of California’s urban landscape, and by extension, the state’s cultural identity.
With a growing number of institutions beginning to recognize street art’s importance, LACMA’s exhibition is a timely and necessary exploration of how graffiti has shaped California’s artistic and cultural narrative, and it offers a glimpse into the future of how we might continue to celebrate this dynamic art form.
