Graffiti: Statements and Names of Oakland

Pittsburgh doesn’t have Bansky or King of Kowloon, but there are many graffiti artists that we do walk past every day like BTK and Apathy pictured above. Also seen throughout Oakland are Whisper, Sodium, and Jumbo. Some of them make statements throughout the city, while others let their name speak for itself.   

This alley off Louisa Street in South Oakland has some of the densest graffiti in the area. Further down the street names like Sodium are crossed out and written over by other artists in what appears to be a feud in the popular space. 

“Love art, hate cops” is a slogan that has popped up all over South Oakland on dumpsters, mailboxes, etc.  I particularly like this photo because it shows the American flag in the background of this anti-establishment statement.

This door on Atwood originally had its own pink and blue flair, but local graffiti artists like Jumbo have decided to give it their own, too.

Finally, I love that all five of the different signatures on this building stayed within the color scheme of this Bates and Mckee apartment building.

Photo Credits: Author

• graffiti
• HC Pitt
• oakland
• Pitt
• snapshot