Glossary

In the glossary below, you will find the meaning of the main terms used in the world of urban art. This glossary is of course not exhaustive.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

A

Abstract

Artistic creation based on characteristics far removed from tangible reality.

B

Block Letters

Association of several massive and compact letters that form a graffiti.

Bomber

Author of a tag.

C

Calligraphy

An artistic technique that consists of drawing, painting, reproducing letters of alphabets of different origins to create an artwork.

Caps

Caps of aerosol cans with apertures larger or smaller to achieve thick or fine lines.

Character

Corresponds to the realization of different styles of characters like Bad Boys, Realists, Comics ....

Chrome

Lettering realized on a wall for example, with large letters of block style, mainly of silver color and with black outlines.

Clean

Cover another graffiti / tag with his.

Collage

Collage is an artistic technique that consists of drawing and painting on paper (kraft or other) and then cutting his creation to paste it on a wall.

Crew

A gang of tagging pals, graffiti artists recognizable by the initials of their group.

D

Drips

Artistic technique which consists of letting the paint run more liquid on the support to form vertical and parallel runs.

E

End to End

Graffiti covering a subway train from beginning to end.

G

Graffiti

Inscription or scribbled drawings on walls, doors ....

L

Letter

Letters that follow one another to form a word. We distinguish the Block Style, Bubble style, Drops, Semi Wild Style and Wild Style, which are in order, an increasingly complex and technical achievement.

M

Mixed technique

A so-called mixed creation consists of using different techniques to make an artwork (bomb, posca, acrylic, collage, stencil ...).

N

Nickname

Name or nickname of the bomber or writer.

P

Pop Art

An artistic movement born in the 1950s that uses visual elements of popular culture, from consumer goods to comic book superheroes.

Posca

Acrylic marker trade-mark whose name has become common for this type of marker.

S

Sketch

Drawing matrix of what will be reproduced on a wall.

Spray Can

Metal container containing paint under pressure used by bombers and writers.

Stencil

The stencil is a reusable support: a cardboard plate, metal, cut plastic that is fixed on the surface to be painted and which is filled with paint empty areas.

Street Art

Street Art is a contemporary artistic movement. It gathers all the forms of art realized in the street, or in public places, and includes various forms of art (graffiti, stencil, collage, mosaic, sticker, display…but also music, dance...). It is mainly an ephemeral art seen by a wide audience.

T

Tag

Coded signature representing a name, a nickname.

Throw-Up

Mix of tag and graffiti that is characterized by letters Bubbles more stylized than pure tags.

Top to Bottom

Graffiti covering a coach from top to bottom.

V

Vandalize

Action to massively paint a surface, a space, a train, a street, a city.

W

Whole Car

Graffiti covering the whole of a coach.

Writer

Author of a graffiti.