10 Must-Watch Documentaries on Urban Art

Description: This groundbreaking documentary captures the early days of hip-hop culture in New York City, focusing on graffiti artists, breakdancers, and DJs. It's a time capsule of urban art's beginnings, showing how these artists battled for recognition.

Fact: The film was one of the first to document hip-hop culture and has been inducted into the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.

Description: This film explores the DIY ethos of a group of artists who emerged from the skateboarding, punk, and graffiti scenes, showing how they influenced mainstream art and culture.

Fact: The film includes artists like Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, and Shepard Fairey, who later gained significant recognition.

Description: This film, directed by the elusive Banksy, follows Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in Los Angeles, who becomes obsessed with filming street artists. It's a fascinating exploration of the art world's underbelly, questioning what makes art valuable.

Fact: The film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 83rd Academy Awards. There's ongoing debate about whether the film is a genuine documentary or a piece of performance art by Banksy himself.

Description: This documentary follows Teri Horton, a truck driver, who discovers a painting she believes to be by Jackson Pollock. It delves into the art world's gatekeeping and the authenticity of art, themes that echo in the urban art scene.

Fact: The film was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Description: This documentary follows the efforts to save a Banksy mural from destruction, exploring themes of art preservation, ownership, and the commercialization of street art.

Fact: The film includes interviews with art collectors, curators, and even Banksy himself, albeit anonymously.

Description: This documentary dives into the lives of graffiti artists in Los Angeles, showcasing their art, their struggles with the law, and their personal stories. It's an intimate look at the passion and risks involved in urban art.

Fact: The film was directed by Doug Pray, who also directed "Scratch," another documentary about DJ culture.

Description: Director Jon Reiss takes viewers on a global journey to explore graffiti and street art, from New York to São Paulo, London to Cape Town, showing how this art form transcends borders and speaks to universal themes of freedom and expression.

Fact: The film features interviews with over 150 artists, including well-known figures like Shepard Fairey and Os Gemeos.

Description: While not exclusively about urban art, this film explores the controversial acquisition of the Barnes Foundation's art collection, touching on themes of art ownership and the commercialization of art, which resonates with urban artists' struggles.

Fact: The film features interviews with art critics, historians, and even former President Jimmy Carter.

Description: This film tells the story of Cool "Disco" Dan, a legendary graffiti artist in Washington, D.C., whose work became a symbol of the city's underground art scene in the '80s and '90s.

Fact: The film was screened at the AFI Docs Film Festival and received positive reviews for its portrayal of urban art's impact on community.

Description: This documentary traces the evolution of graffiti from its roots in Philadelphia to its global spread, offering insights into its cultural significance and the artists who shaped its history.

Fact: The film features interviews with key figures in graffiti history like Cornbread and TAKI