Dystopia & Ruins

Stephanie Buer Harper and John R Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Harper and John R Archival Pigment Fine Art Limited Edition Print on 290gsm Museo Portfolio Rag Paper by Urban Pop Artist Stephanie Buer Modern Artwork. 2015 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 20 Artwork Size 20x16

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$270.00
Jessica Hess Break Free 29 HPM Archival Print by Jessica Hess

Break Free 29 Limited Edition Hand-Embellished HPM Archival Pigment Prints on 290gsm Moab Fine Art Paper by Jessica Hess Graffiti Street Artist Modern Pop Art. Hand-Embellished Archival Pigment Print on 290gsm Moab Fine Art Paper Size: 24 x 20 Inches Release: July 26, 2019 “Break Free” is part of a new series of paintings focusing on the strange abstraction of manmade structures through disuse, decay, and demolition in contrast with the beauty of their reclamation by nature. All will return to the Earth one day." - Jessica Hess

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$489.00
Stephanie Buer CN Rail Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

CN Rail Archival Pigment Fine Art Limited Edition Print on 290gsm Moab Entrada Paper by Artist Stephanie Buer, Street Pop Art Graffiti Legend. Signed & Numbered Archival Pigment Print on Hand-Deckled 290gsm Moab Fine Art Paper Size: 18.5 x 14 Inches Release: March 13, 2020 "This piece is a drawing I made from images gathered while exploring the Packard Plant years ago. It was taken before the Packard Plant was purchased and renovated, back when I used to live in Detroit and wander the plant regularly. That place is very special to me and my early development as an artist." –Stephanie Buer

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$242.00
Jessica Hess No Lifeguard On Duty Archival Print by Jessica Hess

No Lifeguard On Duty Limited Edition Archival Pigment Prints on 310gsm Fine Art Paper by Jessica Hess Graffiti Street Artist Modern Pop Art. "Friends have been telling me for years that I needed to explore Detroit. I finally had the opportunity to do so last summer (2014). It was an urbex wonderland! I only had two short days to gather photo references of the city for my paintings and was overwhelmed by the volume of material. My paintings seek to capture the wonder and excitement in exploring what was once familiar, now otherworldly, the beauty in decay. My painting " No Lifeguard in Duty" was from the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center. I am told that it has now been slated for redevelopment. I guess the graffiti party is over. Sadly, the majority of my subjects disappear soon after I paint them. It makes me feel like some kind of Grim Reaper of architecture. But for years now I have had remarkable luck in capturing them before they go." - Jessica Hess

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$364.00
Kevin Peterson Await Giclee Print by Kevin Peterson

Await Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on 290gsm Fine Art Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Kevin Peterson. Await Edition of 100 26x20 inches / 66x50.8 cm Fine art print on 290gsm paper Hand signed and numbered by the artist

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$406.00
Lady Pink Two Train Wreck Giclee Print by Lady Pink

Two Train Wreck Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on Heavy Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Lady Pink. Giclee print on heavy paper. Size 11” x 17”. The image is 9” x 15”. Hand-signed by Lady Pink ‘05. Partial scene from a mural painted in Brooklyn. Edition of 6

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$283.00
Scott Listfield Ozymandias Archival Print by Scott Listfield

Ozymandias Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on Fine Art Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Scott Listfield.

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$482.00
Stephanie Buer Heidelberg Giclee Print by Stephanie Buer

Heidelberg Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on Fine Art Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Stephanie Buer.

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$209.00
Josh Keyes Mad World Giclee Print by Josh Keyes

Mad World Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on 290GSM Fine Art Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Josh Keyes. Josh Keyes Mad World Edition of 300 13x16 inches / 33x40.6cm Fine art print on 290gsm paper Signed and numbered by the artist Josh Keyes exists equally in the world of surrealism and realism. No matter how contradictory this may seem, his art manages to balance physiological accuracy and extreme photorealism with an eco-surrealistic scenery and interactions. The theoretical context of his work is connected to mythological and folklore themes –especially the legends and stories of Native Americans- and the imagery that exists between dreams and nightmares in order to express profound existential anxiety and uncertainty.

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$295.00
Stephanie Buer Untitled Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Untitled Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on Fine Art Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Stephanie Buer.

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$209.00
Stephanie Buer Kwame Did It Giclee Print by Stephanie Buer

Kwame Did It Artwork Giclee Limited Edition Print on Fine Art Paper by Pop Culture Graffiti Artist Stephanie Buer.

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$209.00
Stephanie Buer Relik Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Relik Limited Edition Archival Pigment Fine Art Prints on Moab Entrada Rag Bright 290gsm Fine Art Paper by Graffiti Street Art and Pop Culture Artist Stephanie Buer. 2020 Relik Signed Limited Edition of 20 Artwork Size 17x14

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$209.00
Jessica Hess Fixer-Upper HPM Archival Print by Jessica Hess

Fixer-Upper Limited Edition Hand-Embellished HPM Archival Pigment Prints on 290gsm Moab Entrada Rag Bright Paper by Jessica Hess Graffiti Street Artist Modern Pop Art. 2020 Signed Limited Edition Fixer-Upper • Autographed archival pigment print • Additional unique paint embellishments on Moab Entrada Rag Bright 290 GSM archival paper • 14 x 17 inches Hand-embellished, signed and numbered by artist Jessica Hess in a limited embellished edition of 5

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$283.00
Stephanie Buer Continental Motors Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Continental Motors Archival Pigment Fine Art Limited Edition Print on 290gsm Moab Entrada Paper by Artist Stephanie Buer, Street Pop Art Graffiti Legend. Signed & Numbered 2019 Archival Pigment Print on 290gsm Moab Fine Art Paper Size: 24 x 12 Inches Release: November 30, 2019 Run of: 50 "This painting is a portrait of the Continental Motors Factory in East Detroit. I have been exploring Detroit for 17 years and this was the very first time I had visited this factory. I love that there are always new places to discover and explore in this city. Continental Motors is the largest painting I have ever made, the original is 5’ long. The building and the snow were so stunning, I really wanted to make an image that captured everything." - Stephanie Buer

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$242.00
Scott Listfield Starship 2000 Giclee Print by Scott Listfield

Starship 2000 Limited Edition Giclée Fine Art Prints on Signa Cotten Rag Paper by Graffiti Street Art and Pop Culture Artist Scott Listfield. 2022 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 75 Artwork Size 12x18

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$482.00
Scott Listfield Headless Horseman PP Archival Print by Scott Listfield

Headless Horseman PP Printers Proof Archival Pigment Fine Art Limited Edition Print on Fine Art Paper by Artist Scott Listfield, Street Pop Art Graffiti Legend. PP Printers Proof 2020 Signed & Marked PP Artwork Size 16x20

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$545.00

Exploring Dystopia and Ruins through Street Pop Art and Graffiti Artwork

Dystopia and ruins have become pervasive themes in street pop art and graffiti artwork, serving as a canvas for artists to explore and critique contemporary societal issues. The stark, often haunting imagery of dystopian landscapes provides a powerful contrast to the vibrant and energetic style typically associated with street pop art, offering a visual dichotomy that compels viewers to reflect on the current state of the world and its direction. These themes are recurrent in urban spaces where the rawness of dilapidated buildings and the remnants of industrial sites offer a tangible link to the concept of decay and the fallibility of human progress. The portrayal of dystopian themes in graffiti art is not just about bleak futures but also serves as a metaphor for resistance and a call to action. Artists use the symbolism of ruins to represent the decay of moral, social, and political structures, challenging the audience to question the sustainability of current systems and practices. Using such imagery in public spaces democratizes the expression of these concerns, taking the discourse out of academic and political arenas and into the everyday world, making it accessible and immediate.

Dystopian Imagery as Commentary in Urban Art

In urban art, the representation of dystopia and ruins often carries an undercurrent of social commentary, indicting environmental degradation, economic disparities, and the loss of community. The visual language of ruins in street pop art and graffiti artwork echoes the post-apocalyptic narratives in literature and film, bridging popular culture and fine art. These depictions serve as cautionary tales, illustrating the potential consequences of humanity's current trajectory and inviting viewers to contemplate alternative futures. Street artists utilize the decaying surfaces of the urban environment as a literal foundation for their work, embedding their art within the fabric of the dystopian landscapes they depict. This integration of art and environment blurs the line between the artwork and the context it critiques, reinforcing the message that the dystopian scenarios portrayed are not far-removed possibilities but present realities that are unfolding in slow motion. Through this integration, street pop art becomes a form of visual activism, harnessing the power of public space to foster dialogue and inspire change. The transient nature of the medium itself amplifies the resonance of dystopian themes in street pop art and graffiti. Graffiti, often subject to erasure and degradation, mirrors the impermanence and fragility of civilization, adding a layer of poignancy to artworks that reflect on societal collapse and the ephemeral nature of human achievements. This impermanence also speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, as artists continually recreate and reimagine their work, just as societies must adapt and evolve to avoid the dystopian outcomes they fear. The exploration of dystopia and ruins in street pop art and graffiti artwork provides a critical lens through which artists and audiences can engage with the complexities of the modern world. By juxtaposing the ruinous landscapes of a potential future with the immediacy of street-level expression, artists challenge passersby to confront uncomfortable truths about the state of society. As a result, these artworks become not just reflections of a possible future but also potent symbols of the power of art to provoke thought and stimulate discourse on the path toward a more hopeful and sustainable world.

16 artworks

Stephanie Buer Harper and John R Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Jessica Hess Break Free 29 HPM Archival Print by Jessica Hess

Stephanie Buer CN Rail Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Jessica Hess No Lifeguard On Duty Archival Print by Jessica Hess

Kevin Peterson Await Giclee Print by Kevin Peterson

Lady Pink Two Train Wreck Giclee Print by Lady Pink

Scott Listfield Ozymandias Archival Print by Scott Listfield

Stephanie Buer Heidelberg Giclee Print by Stephanie Buer

Josh Keyes Mad World Giclee Print by Josh Keyes

Stephanie Buer Untitled Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Stephanie Buer Kwame Did It Giclee Print by Stephanie Buer

Stephanie Buer Relik Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Jessica Hess Fixer-Upper HPM Archival Print by Jessica Hess

Stephanie Buer Continental Motors Archival Print by Stephanie Buer

Scott Listfield Starship 2000 Giclee Print by Scott Listfield

Scott Listfield Headless Horseman PP Archival Print by Scott Listfield

Exploring Dystopia and Ruins through Street Pop Art and Graffiti Artwork

Dystopian Imagery as Commentary in Urban Art