Six Ways to Use Graffiti Art at Events

Text and Photos By Ronnie Caplan

When he’s not designing and producing events, Ronnie Caplan documents his travels through photography;

from urban settings to seaside palisades. In this piece, his two worlds collide.  Enjoy his photos of graffiti art

and his suggestions on how to bring graffiti off the street, and into events. 

Just as it is on the streets, graffiti is unique and eye-catching when used at events. It can be used as décor,

or as a way of delivering brand messages to a varied audience. Graffiti art has roots in ancient times…it

seems there was always someone wanting to express their art in a public way. Today, that art form is just as

vital. Here are six ways to bring this street art into an event

Rooster in Old Montreal

1Graffiti art as colorful signage on food stations.

2 The use of complimentary linen colors, dinnerware and even the presentation food dishes themselves can

make this a vibrant look. Imagine side dishes flowing out of spray paint cans, asparagus, leeks, and other

vegetables shaped like swirls of paint, main dishes presented in trays “painted” with abstract platters of

sauces. In fact, A Divine Event in Atlanta, has created graffiti stations where guests interact with chefs to

create inventive, plated masterpieces using sauces and main dishes.

Wave Wall

2The method is the madness. 

3Since the main element of graffiti is a spray can, consider a refreshment sprayed right into your mouth.

This is what food artist Jennifer Rubell did at a recent event in Toronto. In addition to the spray food, guests

were also served food from disembodied hands appearing through holes in the center of each table.

The Car Gets It

3Graffiti wall. 

4For those guests taking a break from the dance floor, one of the simplest interactive activities to have is a

graffiti wall. Your guests can all contribute to a large art space, which will result in a dynamic, colorful work

of collaborative graffiti art. Depending on the events’ purpose, they can draw or write whatever messages

resonate. All that’s needed is a large mounted black canvas (craft paper), fluorescent paints or pens and

black light, for a glow-in the dark experience.

Graffiti Artist

4The guest becomes the artist.

5Other forms of inspiring interactive activities are being created by companies who provide all the materials

necessary for a great graffiti paint experience, including brushes, canvases, unlimited paint and instructors.

And there is also the “virtual” option such as a digital graffiti wall. New technology allows your guests to

take giant life-sized photos of themselves, then use virtual spray paint cans to add graffiti to them. The

software has many options for the guests to customize any uploaded images from custom backgrounds,

accessories, logos and more.

Watch for Pedestrians

5Make it an Extreme Experience.

6No article on graffiti art would be complete without a mention of Jean Francois. He’s been the force behind

taking art into a complete entertainment form, combining drama, comedy and audience participation. His

show is mainstream, high energy and completely original; graffiti art, and performance art, taken to new

levels.

Horned Canine

6Use every surface.

7Graffiti art knows no boundaries. Every space at an event is a wide open canvas on which to “paint” your

vision, brand messaging, graffiti portraits of award winners, interpretations of your site location . . . from

entranceway to stage backdrop. Even stairways can be painted in graffiti style to direct your guests to the

right place. Tables are draped with white paper, and multi-colored pens, markers and pencils are set out,

allowing guests to doodle while dining.  And with digital and 3D projection mapping now, walls around the

room can be covered in panoramic murals, gobos and vignettes, each depicting bold, kaleidoscopic images,

messages, symbols, logos, making the room an ever-changing environment.

In short, artist, author and lover of graffiti art, Carla H. Krueger sums all this up in one quote: “Blank walls

are a shared canvas and we’re all artists.”

Ronnie CaplanOwner at Ronnie Caplan Photography

Since 1989, Ronnie Caplan has designed and produced events for clients in Puerto Rico,

Montreal, Toronto, Las Vegas, Manhattan and Los Angeles, establishing himself as a noted

event producer / creative director / writer. Traveling extensively for work, and always with a

camera, Ronnie now combines both his love of graphic design and event decor with

photography. Coming full circle, many of these images then are refashioned into thematic

elements at the events he produces.