born in the streets – graffitifondazione cartier for contemporary art, paris july 7th to november 29th, 2009

henry chalfant, stalingrad, 1985 image © henry chalfant image courtesy of fondation cartier

taking over the gallery space of the fondazione cartier, including the building’s façade and the surrounding garden, ‘born in the streets – graffiti’ brings to light the emergence of the artistic movement born in the streets of new york during the 1970s. graffiti today has become a cultural means of artistic expression, crossing the boundaries of studio art, design and advertising. as popular it might be, this essentially illegal activity has continued to evolve within the contemporary art world, embracing different techniques, ideas and styles. this exhibition follows the origins of the graffiti movement and gives the public a chance to rediscover an art form which is both ubiquitous and continually evolving.

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisnew york, 1973 image © jon naar, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parishommage à peter lindebergh, 2009 by jonone collage papier, marqueur et photographies de peter lindebergh, 200 cm x 150 cm photo © peter gosset, image © jononerock / adagp, paris, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, paristhe new face of america, 2009 by jonone collage papier, marqueurs et billets de 1 dollar, 90 cm x 200 cm photo © peter gosset, image © jononerock / adagp, paris, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisimage © part I, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisgraffiti taxonomy : « E » by evan roth, 2008, new york city, USA image © evan roth courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisevan roth in collaboration with AVONE, graffiti analysis, 2006, new york city, USA logiciel personnalisé image © evan roth courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisevan roth in collaboration with KATSU, graffiti analysis, 2006, new york city, USA logiciel personalise image © evan roth image courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parissans titre by barry mcgee image © barry mcgee courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parissans titre by barry mcgee, collages, 2007 image © barry mcgee image courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisvitche in sao paulo, brazil image © vitche courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisvitche in germany image © vitche courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisimage © gérard zlotykamien / adagp, paris, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisimage © gérard zlotykamien, adagp, paris, 2009 photo by thierry lefébure galerie du jour agnès b. courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, paris C.I.M.A numbero 31, 2008 by basco-vazko, santiago, chile image © basco-vazko / paloma palomino courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisenjaulado, 2008 by basco-vazko, independencia, santiago, chile image © basco-vazko courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parismural on boarding of the jan cunen museum in oss, the netherlands by boris tellegen, in collaboration with hooghuis lyceum in oss, 2005 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parissilver piece, 2009 by nug, suède image © nug courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parissilver piece, 2009 by nug, suède image © nug courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisflip one spraying his name in new york city’s underground subway system, 1974 image © flint gennari courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisjoâo wainer in sao paulo, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parissymphonie (work in progress) – flame lighter on the ceiling, 2006, bruxelles, belgium cook and book galerie image © aline bouvy and olivier kosta-théfaine courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parissans titre (rosaces) – flame lighter on the ceiling, 2008, prague, czech republic trafacka galerie image © olivier kosta-théfaine courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisredbird in the bronx, 1973 image © jon naar, 2009 courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisii kase (elkay) par kase 2 photo by henry chalfant, 1980 image courtesy martinez gallery and fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisseen, hand of doom, new york, 1980 photo by henry chalfant courtesy of fondation cartier

'born in the streets graffiti' exhibition at fondation cartier, parisP.H.A.S.E. 2, 2009 © P.H.A.S.E. 2 courtesy of fondation cartier