Philadelphia Graffiti Handstyles: An Exploration in the Early 2020s

Philadelphia has developed a distinctive form of street penmanship that remains largely overlooked in American graffiti. The city is home to an independent street tagging scene that represents a striking local form of calligraphic tradition thriving within the limits of a major metropolitan area.

In the spring of 2023, French graphic designer Francois Chastanet undertook an in-depth exploration through the streets of Philadelphia. Armed with his camera, he set out to demonstrate how public ...