The Fine Art of Outdoor
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve likely seen outdoor advertising in one form or another—whether it was a billboard, wallscape, digital display or guerilla tactics. What you might not have seen is modern day hand-painted outdoor. In our fast-paced digital age, traditional mediums such as paint are uncommon tactics, requiring lots of manpower and longer turnarounds to produce. In the past decade, however, we have seen a revival of this art form in major cities throughout the country.
A Look Back In Time
If you find yourself on a stroll through your local historic district, you will likely come across a few ghost signs. These faded works of art adorn the sides of old buildings, and were used to advertise local businesses in the area. Dating back to the early 1800s, hand-painted outdoor advertising is nothing new to the industry.
Image courtesy of National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Art Form Lives On
So why are advertisers agreeing to this traditional medium? It’s possible we crave a return to artistry—a visual we can connect with on a more human level. There are a few major companies and many freelance artists that specialize in this craft, scaling walls and braving the elements to create one-of-a-kind artworks, all in the name of advertising. We can certainly agree that these high-impact masterpieces bring a breath of fresh air to the industry.
Image and artwork courtesy of Colossal Media Image and artwork courtesy of Colossal Media Image and artwork courtesy of Overall Murals Image and artwork courtesy of Overall Murals Image and artwork courtesy of Overall Murals Image and artwork courtesy of Brooklyn Outdoor