Street art is an umbrella term defining types of visual art created in public locations, usually unsanctioned artwork executed outside the context of traditional art venues. The term gained popularity during the graffiti art boom of the early 1980s and continues to be applied to subsequent incarnations. Stencil graffiti, wheat pasted poster art or sticker art, and street installation or sculpture are common varieties of modern street art. Video projection and Yarn bombing became popularized at the turn of the 21st century.
Artists who choose the streets as their gallery are frequently carrying this out from a preference to convey directly to the public at large, free from the perceived confines of the formal art world. Street artists sometimes present socially relevant content infused with esthetic value, to attract attention to a cause or as a form of “art provocation” Street artists often travel between countries to spread their designs. Some artist’s have gained cult-followings, media and art world attention, and still have gone on to work commercially in the styles which made their work known on the streets.
Artists have challenged art by situating it in non-art contexts. Street artists do not aspire to change the definition of an artwork, but rather to question the existing environment with its own language. The motivations and objectives that drive street artists are as varied as the artists themselves. ‘Street’ artists try to have their work get in touch with everyday people about socially relevant themes in ways that are informed by esthetic values without getting imprisoned by them. There exists a strong current of activism and subversion in urban art. Street art can be a powerful platform for reaching the public and a potent form of political expression for the oppressed, or individuals with little resources to create change.

Etam Cru (comprised of artists Sainer and Bezt) create murals of epic proportions. Spanning entire high-rise buildings, their works are heavily dosed with fantasy, even fairy tale elements. Hints of Eastern European folklore (mushrooms and forest creatures make frequent appearances) make their way into the action-packed scenes reminiscent of graphic novels. Every aspect of the color-saturated murals seems to be in motion: animals and houses alike come to life, human characters gain abilities that defy the laws of physics. Take a look at some of Etam Cru’s latest murals below.