Street art posters: what you should know
Posters have always been part of street culture. Artists use them to promote shows, spread a message or paste images directly onto walls. Today, street art posters are among the most affordable ways to own an image by a favorite artist. This category includes Banksy and Obey posters, exhibition posters and vintage posters.
Posters vs. fine-art prints
Most posters are made as an offset print, the same mass-production process used for magazines and books. Under a magnifying glass, offset printing shows a fine dot pattern. Fine-art prints such as screenprints, by contrast, are produced in smaller, controlled editions and usually signed and numbered. Some artists release screenprinted posters as well, so read listings carefully: the word "poster" can mean anything from an inexpensive reproduction to a signed, limited release.
- Banksy posters: mostly reproductions of well-known images. They are decorative items, not original Banksy prints.
- Obey posters: Shepard Fairey has a long history of poster and sticker work, and posters connected to his imagery are widely available, both official and unofficial.
- Exhibition posters: posters made for gallery or museum shows, which can be interesting as documents of a particular event.
- Vintage posters: older posters with a connection to graffiti, hip-hop or urban culture.
What affects value
For street art posters, the key questions are whether the poster is an official release, whether it is signed by hand, whether it is part of a numbered edition and what condition it is in. Original exhibition posters from the time of a show usually differ from later reprints in paper, size or printing details. Condition matters a lot: pinholes, tape marks, tears, folds and sun damage are common because posters were made to be used.
Buying tips
- Check the dimensions and compare them with the official size if known.
- Ask whether the poster has been folded, rolled or hung.
- Look for printer marks, publisher details or dates in the margins.
- Be skeptical of hand signatures on cheap posters without supporting evidence.
Display
Frame posters with acid-free backing and UV-filtering glass. Avoid dry mounting if you care about future value, and keep them out of direct sunlight.
Listings on this page come from independent eBay sellers and are not checked by us.
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