Graffiti artists these days are a dime a dozen. It doesn’t take much for someone to snatch up a spray can and paint the name of their clique on a wall for people to see. However, to produce poignant, artful images is another story.

Many taggers do it for the rush, others to incite social awareness, and some even for the thrill of running from the cops. But at the heart of the street art movement is the desire for change, or to at least encourage the everyman to open his eyes and question his surroundings. 2013 has already seen amazing work over the last few months, but with the summer approaching, many people are wondering what’s next.

Phlegm

When it comes to large-scale pieces, Sheffield’s own Phlegm is a man worth keeping an eye on. Drawing inspiration from the characters in his own Phlegm Comic, this UK bad boy uses graffiti as a way to reinvigorate run down areas in his hometown and abroad.

There are many recurring themes in his work, but he is often drawn toward simplicity that over time becomes more complex, such as the expansion of ecosystems. One of his latest pieces, a collaboration with London artist, RUN, was painted for the Chichester Street Art festival and occupies nearly the entire side of a building.

Slinkachu

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[...] These pumps were extraordinarily made with metal cooking pots by renown Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, who last year had a record-breaking 1.6 million visits to her show in the Palace of Versailles, France. Her sculptures are popularly recognized for incorporating daily objects—from Chinese store plasticware to reviving traditional Azorian crochet.

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