Art has a place outside of traditional galleries and museums. It can be found on the walls of trendy restaurants and cafés, but also on the streets and in the open air. In fact, some of the world’s most famous artworks have been outside — untouched by human intervention. Concept boards can also be showcase in some museums.
Here’s why art shouldn’t stay inside:
Art should go where people are. Often, people are intimidated by museums or galleries, or they just don’t have the time to visit them. But if they can see (and even touch) art outdoors, they will appreciate it in their own way. Art is meant to be seen, not to gather dust behind glass doors.
Art should be free for everybody to enjoy . The cost of admission to a museum or gallery can be prohibitive for some people, especially if they want to take the whole family along. While public sculptures are generally placed in accessible areas, there are also many street artists displaying their work for free.
Art should be beautiful. This seems like an obvious point, but it is important that artwork is aesthetically pleasing. Even though many modern pieces might look strange at first glance, there’s always a deeper meaning behind them that we need to discover.
Paintings, sculptures, and other works of art are generally considered high-minded, serious pursuits. Despite the fact that they can be fun and exciting to produce and engage with, plenty of people think of them as something to keep inside a gallery, museum, or another place that is “safe” for such endeavors.
But this shouldn’t be the case.
Art has many benefits — it improves our lives in countless ways. And while some artists may not want their creations out in the world where they might be damaged or destroyed, others (like Banksy) do exactly that.
And there’s good reason for it: art is better outside. Here’s why:
It creates interesting public spaces
When you take art out into the open, you get people interacting with it in new and interesting ways. These interactions can create social connections between people who wouldn’t otherwise meet or interact with one another. The result can be a more vibrant public space where people are excited to spend time.
It promotes happiness (and health!)
Multiple studies have found a direct link between art and happiness; one study even found that seeing artwork made people feel healthier!
Because art is a vital component of the human experience. It is an expression of our humanity and individuality, the extension of our souls. Art does not belong in books, or on walls, or in frames; it belongs everywhere, in everything. It belongs in the streets. That’s where it began: on cave walls 40,000 years ago.
I grew up with graffiti. I lived in a neighborhood called Sunset Park, Brooklyn, that was filled with it: bright swirling letters and characters covering every inch of concrete. The massive wall alongside the elevated F-train tracks was covered in words and faces. There were murals on abandoned buildings and street signs; tags on mailboxes and stoops; simple signatures on walls and fences; elaborate designs on light poles and traffic signs.
Art is one of the few things humans have that are universally understood; everyone can appreciate a brilliant painting or sculpture, even if they don’t recognize its value.
When something is built in a city, it’s usually there to serve a function. The function of a home is to be lived in, the function of an office building is to house an office. But what about art? What purpose does it serve in society?
As an artist myself, I find art to be one of the most important building blocks of human culture. We need art to exist in our world; it helps us see the world differently and makes us consider new possibilities.
I wish more people understood that art can be found anywhere — including on the walls of buildings. When you give artists free rein over canvases that expand the entire side of a building, the result is often spectacular. Tips on how to create your artwork in canvas.
