Spray paint
The sword for the artist who paints at knight.
Krylon was the first commercially available spray paint. First introduced in 1947 by Foster & Kester. Krylon spray paint was a go-to type of spray paint for graffiti artist in the 1970s.
Martha Cooper is known for her photography documenting hip hop culture as it developed in the mostly black intercity suburbs of New York. Throughout her images, you can see spray paint. This now adds the association of hip hop culture with the symbol of the spray can. Identity found through an object. It gave a voice to people who most likely would have felt oppressed living in difficult times. Using the humble spray can express in a way a lot of these early graffiti writers where saying, This is me. This is my name this is my art and skill. You can try to oppress me but I will find a way to be heard one way or another.
1981 Beyond words an exhibition for street-based artist to move into a more commercial and fine art based space. Promotional material used imagery of the spray can make the association of street artist use spray paint.
As hip hop culture grew around the world so did the demand for spray paint. The ’90s now saw an increase in specialised graffiti spray paints being created.
Artist like Mr.Brainwash has picked up on the iconic status of the humble spray can using in his artwork to project the same meaning of being an everyday cultural icon as Andy Warhol did with is well-known soup can art piece.
Now Spray paint company Montana now run an ‘artist line’ turning the can into a canvas using the artwork of well known street-based artist. These are now being callable items. The spray can is an iconic image within the street art world as without it street art would not be as much of a big contemporary art movement.