Graffiti is as old as cities--from the political slogans scribbled on public buildings in ancient Roman cities, to anonymous spray-can art that began appearing on city walls in New York and Philadelphia in the late 1970s, graffiti art has stood the test of time. As hip-hop culture spread from America, graffiti became a worldwide phenomenon, emerging in the 1980s as the symbolic artistic language of young people everywhere and one of the most potent influences on youth-oriented marketing and design. Today's young graffiti artists incorporate a variety of mediums--including stickers, stencils, oils, acrylics, and oil-based chalk--as well as an ever-expanding range of social commentary. With more than 2,000 illustrations by over 150 artists from all over the world and interviews with many of them, this book is a comprehensive survey of graffiti art.--From publisher description.