Amsterdam has always been a unique location in the world of art from the streets. The city provided a grateful canvas for local writers and became popular among international artists as well. Many of them found the space they needed to further develop their art on the walls of squatted and empty buildings, in the quiet streets and remote areas.

In the gigantic work Raise the Level on the STRAAT Museum Amsterdam impressive side wall, Shepard Fairey calls attention to improving the dire state of our planet and makes an appeal for us to work together to do so. For this mural, Fairey makes the move to collaborate with Amsterdam graffiti legend Niels ‘Shoe’ Meulman.

Waar de legendarische fotografe Martha Cooper in de jaren 80 een van de beste graffiti fotografen ter wereld was, gingen tieners in de jaren 80 en 90 ook de straat op om foto's te maken van graffiti. Dit werd gedaan met wegwerpcamera's of een simpel analoog toestel.