Modern graffiti art, as most know it today, started in the 1960s and early 1970s with kids, most under 19 years old, who pioneered the movement. Who could’ve guessed back then that graffiti, this revolutionary art form, would become a powerhouse influencing the art world, graphic design, and global media.

Today’s hip hop-inspired graffiti has staying power, especially in the United States where it has stood the test of time by growing, changing, and merging with other art forms. Graffiti has its own unique visual style and, in some cases, its own language. You can see this in The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century as illustrated in Alphabet by Rammellzee whose work demonstrates the "armanamentation" of letters, known as “iconoklast panzerism.”

Many pioneering graffiti artists—including Wane One, Lee Quinones, and Claw Money—have gone on to work with brands such as NIKE, My Little Pony, and Reboot, and now run and own successful companies. Modern graffiti has truly become a world-wide phenomenon!

Want to learn more about graffiti and the other pillars of hip hop? Visit The Culture: Hip Hop in the 21st Century now through September 29.