Documentary Spotlight: Street Art

Today I had the pleasure of checking out one of the coolest exhibits "Art In The Streets" at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. I highly recommend everybody check it out before it leaves...you have all summer (until August 8th to be exact) "Art in the Streets" is the first major historical exhibition of graffiti and street art which documents the origins and history of the movement in the United States and traces its influence as it spread around the world. 

Seeing this amazing exhibit got me thinking of some of my favorite documentaries that follow some of the same street artist I saw today.


"Bomb It!" (2007) tells the story of contemporary graffiti, tracing it's roots in ancient rock paintings through Picasso to it's place in hip hop culture in 1970s New York City. Filmmaker Jon Reiss travels five continents to reveal graffiti's history, cultural impact and social relevance. To see the graffiti in places like Dublin and Madrid will blow your mind!

"Beautiful Losers" (2008) explores the world of a group of underground artists who began influencing areas from fashion and film to music and pop culture in the early 1990s. Great interviews from some of the movements most notable players including Shepard Fairey. 

"Exit Through the Gift Shop" (2010) the inside story of Street Art. It follows an eccentric shop-keeper turned amatuer film-maker as he attempts to capture many of the world's most infamous vandals on camera, only to have British stencil artist Banksy turn the camcorder back on its owner. Nominated for Best Documentary at the 2011 Academy Awards.

NETFLIX THEM!!! & for more info on "Art in the Streets" check out the MOCA website