100 Years of Urban Art in Germany: A Timeline of Creativity and Rebellion

1920s–1930s: Early Influences and Political Expression

Long before graffiti and street art became a mainstream phenomenon, early German artists were experimenting with public and political art. The Bauhaus movement (1919–1933) revolutionized design and typography with its geometric and abstract style. Meanwhile, German art took off with Berlin Dadaists like Hannah Höch, who was famous for her collage style and photomontaging to assemble pieces of media and press, and John Heartfield, who used art as political activism and created powerful anti-fascist works like "Adolf, the Superman" (1932) depicting Hitler swallowing gold while speaking propaganda. This paved the way for the stencil and collage-based as well as the highly political street art of later decades.

1940s–1960s: Post-War Murals and Propaganda

After World War II, Germany was a divided nation, and urban art became a tool for political messaging. Public murals, especially in East Germany, were used for propaganda, while West Berlin saw the early stirrings of countercultural art.

When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, it became an instant symbol of division and oppression. However, it also became a canvas for political statements. Most recognisable is Dmitri Vrubel’s illustration of Communist dictators Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker passionate kiss which became famous for its satirisation of fraternal Soviet allegiance. Meanwhile, in West Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, political muralism flourished, often tied to leftist and anarchist movements.

1980s: The Birth of German Graffiti

Inspired by the graffiti explosion in New York, the birthplace of modern street art, young Germans began tagging subway trains and city walls in the early 1980s. ‘Tagging’ is the most common form of graffitiing, in which an individual will write their name or initials on someone’s property, common within street gangs to mark territory. The first major graffiti crews, like GFA (Graffiti Art), emerged, bringing bold lettering and vibrant colour schemes to German cities.

Artists like Thierry Noir and Keith Haring left their mark on the Berlin Wall, introducing a more playful and pop-art-driven style to urban surfaces. Noir, originally from France, was one of the first artists to paint the Wall in the early 1980s. His signature style features brightly colored, cartoonish faces, which became synonymous with Berlin's graffiti culture.

German artist Loomit was a pioneer of 3D graffiti, influencing a generation of artists. His large-scale, futuristic murals helped push graffiti into the realm of high art. Daim, another major figure in the scene, became famous for his hyper-realistic 3D lettering, which continues to be a benchmark in graffiti artistry.

1990s: Reunification and an Explosion of Street Art

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, street art flourished in the newly reunified capital. The remnants of the Wall, covered in years of protest graffiti, became a symbol of artistic resistance and freedom.

In cities like Hamburg and Munich, photorealistic graffiti styles began to gain popularity, led by artists like MTO and Case Maclaim. MTO, known for his monochromatic, hyper-detailed murals, has created stunning large-scale portraits, such as "The Wrinkles of the City" series. Case Maclaim, a member of the Maclaim Crew, is famous for his surreal, photorealistic depictions of hands in motion.

Meanwhile, alternative art spaces like Tacheles provided a home for experimental street art, supporting underground artists and activists, not an inch of its walls are not decorated without spray paint or marker pens.

2000s: Urban Art Goes Mainstream

By the 2000s, Berlin had solidified itself as one of the global capitals of street art. The Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain districts became hubs for stencil art, paste-ups and large-scale murals.

Artists like El Bocho, known for his “Little Lucy” series, inspired by a Czech animated series. International figures like British artist Banksy and Italian painter Blu left their marks on Berlin, most famous is the mural in Kreuzberg which depicts two hazmat-suited figures unmasking one another.

Urban art festivals and legal mural projects gained traction, allowing graffiti artists to create massive works without fear of prosecution.

2010s: Museums, Festivals, and Legal Street Art

The 2010s saw German urban art shift from underground to institutionally recognized. The Urban Nation Museum opened in Berlin in 2017, legitimizing street art as an integral part of the city’s culture. Artists like Herakut, 1010, and Innerfields gained international recognition.

Herakut, a duo composed of Hera (Jasmin Siddiqui) and Akut (Falk Lehmann), are known for their expressive, melancholic characters and thought-provoking messages. Their mural "My Superhero Power is Forgiveness" in Berlin is a striking example of their emotional storytelling.

Despite this mainstream acceptance, some graffiti crews, such as 1UP Crew, continued the tradition of rebellious, unsanctioned street art, keeping the spirit of graffiti alive in a rapidly gentrifying cityscape.

2020s: Digital Graffiti and New Frontiers

Today, urban art in Germany continues to evolve. NFTs and digital graffiti have emerged as a new frontier, blending technology with street culture. At the same time, traditional graffiti still thrives, particularly as a means of protesting gentrification and social issues.

Contemporary artists like MadC, ECB, and Akte One continue to push the boundaries of what urban art can be. MadC (Claudia Walde), one of the most influential female graffiti artists, is known for her large-scale, colourful murals, such as "700-Wall," a 700-square-meter piece in Berlin.

From the political photomontages of the 1920s to the high-tech street art of today, Germany’s urban art scene has been a powerful mirror of its social and political changes. Whether through graffiti, stencils or large-scale murals, the country’s cities remain living, breathing galleries—proof that the streets will always have something to say. Learn more with our 'German and Urban Art for Teenagers' course at Wiseward!

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