I love to use the process of graffiti tagging with markers on my paintings and prints. The way messages and tags layer up on the surface — building up over time, just like they do on a wall in the street — is something I find endlessly compelling in my own street pop art paintings.
Graffiti tagging is an art form that has grown alongside the contemporary art movement. While tagging in some form has existed since ancient times, it's only in recent decades that it's developed into a fully-fledged cultural movement with its own styles, codes, and history.
Graffiti and Tagging — What's the Difference?
A common belief is that graffiti and tagging are two separate things. Graffiti is broadly the practice of making art on a wall or public surface — usually without permission. Tagging is more specific: it's an artist's signature, a mark that says I was here. When combined, graffiti tagging is the act of applying a distinct, personal mark to a piece — the artist's logo, their calling card, the thing that makes the work immediately theirs.
You can read more about the wider vocabulary of the form in my guide to street art terms you need to know.
The History of Graffiti Tagging
The 1960s were a defining moment for tagging culture. The pioneer most people credit is Darryl McCray — better known by his alias Cornbread — who became the first modern artist to systematically tag public surfaces, building a following and a mythology in the process. Through the 1970s and 80s, the culture exploded: artists competed to get their signatures seen, covering subway trains and public spaces in a race for visibility and reputation.
For a deeper look at where graffiti sits legally and culturally today, see is graffiti legal?
Forms of Graffiti Tagging
Tagging has splintered into dozens of distinct styles: fat cap, bubble letters, wildstyle, heaven spots, throw-ups, blockbusters — each with its own rules, difficulty, and cultural weight. The movement keeps evolving, with new styles emerging across different cities and scenes. What started with Cornbread is now a genuinely global language.
To see how graffiti and pop art overlap, read what is graffiti pop art? — or browse my limited edition prints to see how these influences feed directly into the work.
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