East London Street Art Culture
walk down a street in East London and you’ll find yourself in an open-air gallery adorned with bold murals, intricate stencils and layers of tags and paste-ups battling for space.
By Alilya Narikbayeva
London’s graffiti and street art culture is an evolving conversation. Alternative London has been guiding people through this scene for over a decade. Founded by Garry, they offer authentic walking tours and workshops. “The majority of graffiti used to be illegal,” Garry explains. “It was about taking space, being seen, and making a name. But now, there are more legal walls, more permission spots, and even council-supported street art.”
“With social media, people realised they didn’t need physical walls anymore, their work could have permanence online.” Gary also highlighted the double standards in how graffiti is treated compared to street art. “Graffiti, the lettering, the writing, still gets criminalised.
But if a street artist paints a nice mural, it’s protected by the council because it adds ‘cultural value.’ The lines are blurry, but at the end of the day, both are forms of artistic expression.”
Among the artists leaving their mark is Taqi Spateen, a Palestinian street artist using walls to tell stories of resistance and resilience. One of his murals, which I saw during the tour, features a field of flowers breaking through concrete, a well surrounded by surveillance cameras, and a crow, a symbol of justice and defiance.
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“The crow represents native animals of Palestine. In the face of occupation.” Taqi says. “My art is my way of leaving my words and thoughts behind.”
The Women’s Street Art Collective is another force shaping the scene. “We started five years ago after I had a powerful experience with a women’s circle in India,” Elno, one of the founding members, shares. “That trip made me want to surround myself with women and create a space of support and sisterhood.” The collective hosts paint jams, exhibitions, and events that not only showcase women artists but also bring people of all genders together.
“When women collaborate without competition, incredible things happen.” East London, once a haven for artists, has been rapidly gentrified. "You see creative spaces destroyed to make way for something the community never asked for," Garry says. "Graffiti becomes a way for people to reclaim that space." To explore this ever-changing art form, head to Alternative London’s website and book a tour.
