Mural art and graffiti were the first true democratizations of fine arts in contemporary culture. Today anyone can see art online via blogs, Instagram, and a simple Google search, but before the Internet and smart phones, without going into an art gallery or museum, it was more difficult for the public to be exposed to this kind of culture. People actually had to go out and seek the murals and tags, or run into them serendipitously on the street. What began as an underground almost anarchic form of expression has now been embraced by museums and galleries as an art movement. The works of these artists exemplify this generation’s transition of mural art and graffiti to the gallery space. As artists, they have come full circle, from the streets to the galleries, and back to the streets showing their work to the widest possible audience.

Though their styles and techniques vary, their influence from graphic design and popular culture is easily visible. Stories of society, politics, and culture from across the globe sit side by side. POP seeks to display a range of artworks influenced by pop culture, bringing the diverse colors of the streets into the white walls of the gallery.

Featured artists: Cope2, Cyrcle, Gemma O'Brien, Joram Roukes, Kongo, Okuda, Takahiro Komura and Tristan Eaton.

Image courtesy of Above Second