What is graffiti?

Graffiti is when people write or draw on walls to make them look cool and special.

Imagine you're playing with crayons on a big piece of paper, that's like what graffiti artists do, but instead of paper, they use walls outside. They might draw pictures, write messages, or even color whole parts of a wall to make it look fun and lively.

What Graffiti Looks Like

Graffiti can be simple or super complicated. Sometimes it’s just one person writing their name in bright colors, that's called tagging. Other times, a group might work together to create huge, colorful pictures that cover an entire wall, like a mural.

Why People Do Graffiti

People do graffiti because they want to leave something behind for others to see. It’s like leaving a message in a bottle, but instead of a bottle, it's on a wall, and everyone who passes by can read it or admire the art.

Graffiti can be found anywhere, on buildings, trains, sidewalks, even under your school bus!

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Examples

  1. A child draws a cartoon character on the wall of their school.
  2. A teenager writes their name in big letters on a bus stop.
  3. A group of friends paints a rainbow across an empty building.

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