The Godfather.

The concept of 'street art' is one that has become a huge and very profitable industry in the last ten years, so much so that the governments and councils that regarded it as unlawful have become powerless to prevent it, while the artists themselves have gained fame and fortune instead of being arrested. Often, street art is of a controversial nature, possibly because it is the ultimate form of freedom of speech; painting or spraying their thoughts and feelings about anything and everything under the protection of their pseudonym. Names like Banksy and Blu are two that spring immediately to mind when thinking about street art, and with good reason, however there must be a consideration for those who began this phenomenon. One name that is imperative to mention is Richard Hambleton.

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Hambleton now resides and works in New York and has, through his influential and innovative art, earned the nickname 'the godfather of street art'. Hambleton's earliest street art came into the public line of sight with his Image Mass Murder series, started in 1976, in which he would draw chalk lines around volunteers onto the pavement and then outline these with splashes of red paint to impersonate a real life crime scene, something that shocked civilians who happened to pass by. The controversial and shocking nature of his art continued throughout the 80's with his famous 'Shadowman' and gallery exhibitions like 'Beautiful Paintings', the latter allowing Hambleton to, in his own words, seek a "different sensibility" from his previous art.

There is no doubt that Hambleton is the godfather of street art, not only for being so successful in his right, but for being the first to do it; the first to risk arrest to get his voice heard, the first to see the city as his canvas, the first to revel in shocking passersby with his brutally honest subject matter. All modern-day street artists, whether consciously or sub-consciously, have Richard Hambleton to thank for inspiring what they chose to do with their life.

Hambleton is holding an exhibition at The Dairy in London starting from Friday 19th November. If you live in the London area, or can easily get there, and appeciate real street art get yourself to the exhibition of a true pioneer.