Art the Work

Graffiti 22 is an etching created by British artist Robyn Denny in 1977, depicting linear lines within a geometric abstraction in deep burgundy pigment. This print is part of the artist's 'Graffiti' collection, which comprises twenty-five distinct and heavily pigmented images, produced as either etchings or aquatints, with each showcasing the artist's fascination with art and public space. For these works, Denny was inspired by such urban elements as metal signage and the use of walls as a canvas, which together contribute to the layering of visual meaning.

This 'Graffiti' series also highlights Denny's extensive printmaking practice, which is often overshadowed by his more famous monumental paintings and murals. He created this series as both etchings and aquatints, exhibiting their reproduction and repeatability, and thus echoing the themes of repetition commonly found in the urban environments that inspired them.