PUBLIC ART AS PROTEST
How Murals, Graffiti, and Street Art Are Changing the World
Reya Neogi
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Public art isn’t just about making cities look interesting: it’s a way for people to fight injustice, challenge authority, and make their voices heard. From massive murals to rebellious graffiti, artists have been using public spaces to push for social change for decades. Whether it’s painting a tribute to a fallen activist or spraying a message of resistance on a city wall, street art is a powerful tool for protest. When a powerful mural is created, people take pictures and post them online, and suddenly, that message reaches way beyond one city block.
Giant messages that refuse to be ignored. Murals are like open-air billboards for social movements. They tell stories, celebrate culture, and demand change, all without a single word. Think about the massive Black Lives Matter murals painted on streets across the U.S. in 2020. These weren’t just art. They were statements, reminding everyone that racial justice isn’t optional.
EMMANUEL DUNAND, AFP Via Getty Images
Or the Chicano Mural Movement in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Mexican American artists used murals to highlight their struggles and cultural pride when mainstream media ignored them. Even today, murals are popping up worldwide to call attention to issues like climate change, women’s rights, and political corruption.
Congresso de Artistas, 1978
Graffiti has always been controversial. Some see it as vandalism, but for many, it’s an act of resistance. In countries where governments silence free speech, graffiti can be one of the only ways for people to speak out. During apartheid in South Africa, activists would spray anti-government messages in public places, even though it was illegal. Today, Iranian artists risk their safety by leaving messages of defiance on city walls.
Consider Banksy. One of the most famous street artists in the world. His graffiti mixes dark humor with political messages, taking shots at war, consumerism, and government surveillance. His work proves that sometimes, a simple stencil on a wall can shake up an entire conversation.
Street art isn’t just about paint, it can be anything that takes over public space to send a message. French artist JR pastes giant portraits of marginalized people in unexpected places, forcing the world to see them. Protesters have even used projectors to shine messages onto buildings, making it impossible for authorities to erase their words. Even stickers, wheat-paste posters, and sidewalk chalk art are becoming powerful tools for activism.
Banksy in Ukraine, Ed Ram / Getty images
And the best thing about public art? It belongs to everyone. Unlike museums or galleries, you don’t need money or status to experience it. It turns everyday spaces, streets, walls, and bridges into places for conversation and change.
Which is exactly why some people try to destroy it. Political murals get painted over, and some cities crack down on graffiti with heavy fines. Still, over and over again, artists keep creating, knowing that their work is more than just paint. It’s a fight for justice.
So next time you walk past a mural or see graffiti on a wall, take a second look. Who is it speaking for?
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