BEYOND THE STREETS

BEYOND THE STREETS returns to with an all-new exhibition, bringing together fresh works, historic pieces and previously unseen works by leading figures in international street culture.

The landmark exhibition traces six decades of the extraordinary influence of street culture on contemporary art, photography, fashion, music and activism. A story unfolds through innovators and legends from the genres of graffiti, street art, hip-hop, 2Tone and a wider ecosystem of people willing to challenge boundaries and take risks, reshaping the world around them. These movements take different forms, but they share the same core impulse to create, disrupt, and be heard on their own terms.

BEYOND THE STREETS transforms the exhibition rooms across three floors and intervening spaces into an immersive journey through the history of street culture and its ongoing influence. Spanning more than ten rooms and bringing together over 100 international creators, the exhibition features paintings, sculptures, fashion, ephemera, large-scale installations, site-specific interventions, immersive environments, historic works, new commissions, rare archives, and interactive experiences. Together, these works – many of which have been created specifically for the show – create a multilayered portrait of street culture: one that can be explored, experienced, and felt rather than simply viewed.

This expansive exhibition features: UK drum ‘n’ bass pioneer GOLDIE; internationally renowned artist KAWS; notorious feminist artists the Guerrilla Girls; a tribute to one of the most stolen books in the world, Subway Art; a spray paint infinity room; an animated puppet shop; and, artwork by Damien Hirst.

A room dedicated to activism will feature work from the Black Panthers’ official photographer Neil Kenlock, a video piece from Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, works by emerging artist GG the Illustrator; the archive of the See Red Women’s Workshop; and Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the 2008 ‘HOPE’ portrait associated with Barack Obama’s successful 2008 presidential campaign.

Other highlights include a recreation of part of a New York City subway train inside the first room; works by graffiti pioneers FUTURA 2000, LADY PINK and ZEPHYR; paintings by American artist Kenny Scharf; a comprehensive archive of English football firms’ calling cards; photographer Jill Posner’s archive of radical 1970s feminist graffiti; works by neo-conceptual artist Jenny Holzer; seminal UK music photographer Normski; a retrospective of New York City subway art; a history of graffiti on the London underground; the archive of trailblazing UK magazine Hip-Hop Connection; and, a history of the aerosol spray can – from its wartime use protecting soldiers from malaria to its defining role in global street art.

Elsewhere, The Big Issue will mark its anniversary with 35 of its most influential covers, and there will be a room dedicated to the 2Tone movement featuring photographs by Janette Beckman. 

Featured artists: 

A-ONE, Aida Wilde, Alexis Ross, André Saraiva, BANDO, Bart Simpson as El Barto, Barry McGee, BLADE, CAINE 1, Chantal Pinzi, Conor Harrington, C.R. Stecyk III, CRASH, Damien Hirst, David Storey, DEFER, DONDI, Drift, Duncan Weston, ERIC HAZE, Estevan Oriol, FAFI, Fátima de Juan, Felipe Pantone, FUTURA 2000, GG The Illustrator, GOLDIE & Metalheadz, Guerrilla Girls, Gus Coral, HELCH, Henry Chalfant, Hip Hop Connection Magazine, Hunt Emerson, Husk Mit Navn, Invader, IZ THE WIZ, Janette Beckman, Jenny Holzer, Jill Posener, John “Teflon” Sims, JR, Julio Anaya Cabanding, KAWS, KC Ortiz, Kenny Scharf, LADY PINK, LEE 163rd, Lucy Sparrow, Martha Cooper, MEAR ONE, MODE2, MOSES TAPS, MR B. & KIX, Nadya Tolokonnikova, Neil Kenlock, NOC 167, Normski, Okuda san Miguel, Ozzie Juarez, Patrick Martinez, Paul Insect, PHASE 2, PHLEGM, PREF, PRIDE, QUIK, RAMMELLZEE, RAMS, Richard Reyes, RISK, Rocco and his Brothers, Roger Perry, ROIDS, Roy Reed, SABER, SCRIBLA, See Red Women’s Workshop, Shepard Fairey, SHIRT KING PHADE, SHOK 1, SNAKE 1, STAY HIGH 149, TAKI 183, TEACH, The Big Issue, Tim Conlon, Timothy Curtis, Todd James, TOX 26, TRACY 168, Trevor Jackson + Donald Christie, TRIPL FURIOUS, Vaughn & Mark Bode, VHILS, WILSONBROTHERS x LWL, ZAKI DEE 163. 

BEYOND THE STREETS is supported by Rifflandia.

With additional support from Logistics Partner TFA London.