Pieces, short for "masterpieces", are a form of

graffiti Graffiti (singular ''graffiti'', or ''graffito'' only in graffiti archeology) is writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from simple written "monikers" to elabor ...

that involves large, elaborate and detailed letter forms. They are one of the main forms of modern graffiti, along with tags and throw ups, and are the least controversial of the three and least likely to be seen as vandalism. Due to their size, pieces are almost always done in aerosol spray paint, but graffiti artists may use

paint roller A paint roller is a paint Paint is a material or mixture that, when applied to a solid material and allowed to dry, adds a film-like layer. As art, this is used to create an image or images known as a painting. Paint can be made in many color ...

s for large areas that require filling in with paint.

Form

Pieces tend to be large, with multi-coloured fills and outlines. They often incorporate highlights, shadows, and a background, and may use extensions on letter forms, 3D effects, and sometimes characters. Because of their complexity and large size, pieces usually take a significant amount of time to plan and paint and therefore are often found on legal walls. Illegal pieces tend to be found in less crowded spaces such as train yards,

tunnel A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...

s, drains, rooftops, and walls facing train tracks. Illegal pieces done in busier areas are often done over multiple nights or by multiple members of a crew. Wildstyle graffiti with crab

Many people unfamiliar with graffiti forms can find it difficult to distinguish the letters in more elaborate pieces. While straight-letters are pieces with clear letters that prioritise legibility,

wildstyle Wildstyle is a complicated and intricate form of graffiti, the most complex type of graffiti Piece (graffiti), piece. Due to its complexity, wildstyle can be difficult to read for those unfamiliar with the form and process. It is considered the ...

pieces have extremely exaggerated letters forms with multiple extensions and add-ons, and are often illegible to many people. This may be a deliberate choice to allow only those familiar with the art form to read them. Some writers choose to sign their pieces with personal and crew tags.

History

Pieces were first observed in the 1980s on trains in the New York Subway, which caused the metro to stop dispatching trains with painted carriages. This instead had the unintended effect of writers opting instead to paint pieces on city walls. Pieces are more likely to be considered a "true" art form by people outside of the graffiti community. With the rise of

commercial graffiti Commercial graffiti (also known as aerosol advertising or graffiti for hire) is the commercial practice of graffiti artists being paid for their work. In New York City in particular, commercial graffiti is big business and since the 1980s has man ...

since the late 2000s, legal pieces are sometimes commissioned by local businesses as promotion, or by local councils with the intention of discouraging less appreciated forms of graffiti such as tags, given that many writers will not go over another artist's work.

Popular culture

Art galleries An art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. In Western cultures from the mid-15th century, a gallery was any long, narrow covered passage along a wall, first used in the sense of a place for art in the 1590s. The long ...

may feature pieces, either directly on canvas or in photography. Critics say that pieces originally in the street then put in galleries have their context and function removed, and recontexualise a piece from being public communication to one-way communication of those more privileged. Pieces seen in public areas like streets have been shown to have a stronger emotional value for viewers than when seen in a museum. Others argue that pieces in galleries allow the art to reach people who otherwise might dismiss it. Areas with large amounts of elaborate pieces can become

tourist attractions A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beau ...

such as

Hosier Lane Hosier Lane is a laneway in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Located on the CBD's southern edge, it extends between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, and opens opposite the Atrium at Federation Square. Si ...

in Melbourne, which are advocated by tourism groups despite the pieces being illegal.

References

{{Street art Graffiti and unauthorised signage