The 50 Biggest Street Art Arrests

A history of street art's relationship with the law.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The war between street artists and the law shows no sign of abating. If anything, it's intensifying. The vandal squad's genuine love of catching writers is a well known phenomenon in the graffiti world. Likewise, any artist with his heart in the right place will tell you that without the illegal aspect, it just wouldn't be the same. It seems even as security measures grow tighter and legal consequences more punishing, the movement is bigger than it's ever been.

Complex's 50 Biggest Street Art Arrests covers some of the more prolific, landmark, absurd, or just unlucky cases in the ongoing battle between street artists and the law. It contains only arrests and information widely reported in the news media, or from published interviews with the artists themselves. No government names or mug shots have been used. In cases where outcomes are unknown, charges are merely accusations. Every arrest here goes deeper than what has been reported in the media: please think carefully before making "corrections" in the comments.

The 50 Biggest Street Art Arrests

RELATED: The 50 Greatest Street Artists Right Now

Yoshitomo Nara, New York

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SLA, Florida

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MIDZT, Los Angeles

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MOUSTACHE, New York

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VOINA, Moscow

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Jonas Lara, Los Angeles

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ZEB, New York

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GIRAFA, San Francisco

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SPACE INVADER (unconfirmed), Los Angeles

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VOMET, ENZO, PERVE, FEED, RUSSIA, BEAV, STEAL and SHINE

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John Scott, Los Angeles

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Travie McCoy, Berlin

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SMEAR, Los Angeles

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OVIEONE, New York

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DPM, London

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OCP, Los Angeles

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MFONE, Pittsburgh

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MTA, Los Angeles

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COPE2, New York

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STAYHIGH149, New York

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2ESAE, New York

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TOX, London

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POSTER BOY, New York

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O'CLOCK, New York

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WYSE, Boston

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LA ROC, New York

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MAP, New York

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PER, DAIM and HESH, New York

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SMASH

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FISTA, Sheffield, UK

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ESPO, New York

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KET, New York

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ZEVS, Hong Kong

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MCKOY/BANOS, Singapore

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Shepard Fairey, Denver and Boston

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Chad Muska, Los Angeles

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DESA, New York

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KEO, New York

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BUKET, Los Angeles

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COST, New York

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REVS, New York

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CHAKA, Los Angeles

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"Camera Man" Carl, New York

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UTAH and ETHER, Chicago/New York

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JA, New York

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SANESMITH, New York

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GKAE, Los Angeles

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Michael Jerome Stewart, New York

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NEO, New York

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REVOK, Los Angeles

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