Yahoo News Stunning photos show best street art in London through the years
From bold political statements to touching tributes, stunning photos taken in London within the last decade show that street art is thriving across the capital.
Within the last few decades, scores of buildings across London have been emblazoned with colourful images and designs made by street artists – including the world-famous Banksy.
Stunning pictures taken in the capital in the last 10 years show some of the most iconic street art pieces to date, including moving tributes to singers David Bowie and Aretha Franklin.
Other poignant pieces have included a mural commemorating the victims of the London Bridge terror attack and another to mark the 50thanniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Renowned artist Banksy has also selected the streets of London for some of his most iconic pieces of work, including the "Snorting Copper" and his Basquiat piece in Barbican.
A more recent piece suspected to have been a Banksy was made near Extinction Rebellion’s camp in Marble Arch, with the piece reading: “From this moment despair ends and tactics begin.”
In the gallery above, the Standard has compiled some of the best street art pieces seen across London through the years.
Street art 'brings communities together'
Pegasus, a street artist who has lived in London for 16 years, has painted a variety of murals over the last eight years.
His work includes poignant tributes to Karl Lagerfeld and a piece to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
Speaking to the Standard, Pegasus said that street art across the capital helps to bring communities together, with murals - including one dedicated to the Grenfell Tower victims - also bonding people in times of tragedy.
"When I first started doing this, street art was a rare thing, it wasn't very common to see it on every corner," Pegasus said. "It just wasn't as recognisable back then as it is now.
"Street art helps bring communities together, especially in times of tragedy. People in the last couple of years have turned to art for a way of bonding during difficult times."
Speaking about how the perception of street art has changed since he started, the Chicago-born artist said it has gone from being thought of as vandalism to being widely celebrated.
"For so long it was considered vandalism, but artists like Banksy have helped. When I started, even when I was given permission to paint on walls I would be stopped by police officers" he said.
"Now it's very accepted and welcomed in a lot of communities. I've been painting out in the street during the day and police officers would come up and say 'that's very cool'. It's gone from me painting in the shadows at night to it being openly celebrated."
