(Image Above: Banksy’s “Maid” www.banksy.co.uk. Photo Courtesy of Noirstudios.com )
Plenty of “street art” is unappealing. Almost all of it is controversial. And, pretty much none of it is conventional. Though the term street art may bring to mind images of scrawling graffiti, the installations featured in this week’s Top Ten are works of talent, wit and eye-pleasing aesthetics. A small taste of the finer side of open air art, please put your hands together for the Top Ten Pieces of Street Art. Feel free to comment with street art photos of your own to add to the list.
1. “Tesco Pledge of Allegiance” by Banksy. “I pledge allegiance to the grocery store of The United Kingdom of Consumerism…” by London’s leading graffiti artist.
2. “Acrobatics” by Nemo. The infamous Parisian trench coat-and-fedora-silhouette-of-a-man goes circus.
3. “Little Helmet Man” by Space Invader. Aw, so cute. I want one, but sadly he’s cemented to the streets of Paris.
4. Batman and Robin by Julian Beever. Holy optical illusions! This guy is amazing.
5. “Butte Aux Cailles Woman” by Misstic. Translation: “Ethic is the aesthetic of the inside.”
6. Pisa Mural by Keith Haring. No street art post would be complete without a Haring. Color, movement, classic Haring. I wish I could dance like these dudes.
7. “London Graffiti Tunnel Eskimo” by Unknown. There’s an amazing legalized graffiti tunnel in London. This Eskimo-like kid in the tunnel always impressed me.
8. Street Gym by Robin Rhode. Rhodes chalks his work out on the pavement and interacts with it as though it were reality. Pretty neat stuff, if I do say so myself!
9. “Untitled In Stockholm” by Unknown. Found on a random signpost in Stockholm, this purely random piece of street art always makes me laugh.
10. Neuquén by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada. I’m always a sucker for great portraiture.
Now that you’re feeling inspired, check out these street art-inspired items: Painting With Light Hi-Tops, New York Style Wallet, Jungle Jane Tee, Have A Nice Shoe, I Spy Dress, and Bike A Pose Dress
2 loves 
These are so cool! Love the Batman and Robin one!
Very cool.
I’m so glad you posted this Hannah! These are so fun. Pittsburgh is lucky to have some Swoon and Barry McGee hanging around too as well as more local street artists.
holy batman and robin! that hurts my head to think about painting it
Great stuff. I lived in Rio de Janeiro for 4 months, and was in awe of the incredible street art you can find there.
3 pictures I took of the street art there:
1. http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v646/73/2/1108770092/n1108770092_30112840_2178.jpg
2. http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v646/73/2/1108770092/n1108770092_30112844_4061.jpg
3. http://www.facebook.com/carazelaya?ref=name#/photo.php?pid=30112845&id=1108770092
Everyone should go to Rio someday! Such a great place for Art!! :)
Gorgeous! I adore street art! woostercollective.com is dedicated to finding and displaying some great pieces … my favourite is http://www.woostercollective.com/2006/08/arofish_in_ramallah.html
aww, the paris space invaders are my favorite. they pop up where you least expect them!
Great post! # 10 is phenomenal even though I am a huge fan of the optical illusions…
FYI, there is one on 5th ave in Pittsburgh (Oakland)
:P
I saw a piece of street art once that was basically a white-washed wall that read: “This space intentionally left blank.” It was awesome. Also, living in the Goss-Grove neighborhood in Boulder, we frequently got some pretty great graffiti. My favourite was Bob Dylan’s head and it said: “I’m on the pavement thinkin’ bout the government.” Naturally on the ground. ;)
Hahaha those sound great Elyse. Wish I could have seen them myself.
3ANKSYismyultimatelove.
you should check out Swoon, she’s amazing:
http://tinyurl.com/qz5kpw