Shaping Impressions of the Space: Effects of Street Art/Graffiti in Different Public Space Contexts

Abstract

Art plays a prominent role in shaping urban aesthetic value,
image, and identity of public spaces. This paper aimed to
examine the role of street art and graffiti in shaping impressions
of the space using a correlational and experimental design in
an online study with 874 participants (69% female, aged 15 to
66 years). The participants rated their impression of the space
on an 8-item scale for a series of photographs of street
art/graffiti and public space combinations. The results showed
that street art/graffiti changed the impression of the space from
rather neutral to more comfortable, appealing, playful,
interesting, and safe. While the tag mostly had no significant
effects, style writing and the mural had strong and positive
effects. Implications of the study's results provide input for the
rehabilitation and design of public spaces.