Sticker Art in the City: NRC on The Sticker Scene

Traffic signs, lamp posts, electrical boxes – the city is full of stickers. But who puts them there, and why? In a recent NRC article, journalist Christiaan Weijts dives into the world of sticker art in the city public spaces, highlighting how artists use stickers to leave their mark on urban landscapes. The article delves into the motivations behind this form of street art, the sense of community among sticker artists, and the paradox of its legal status—both forbidden and embraced as street culture.

Artists like 10GU, FromTheWRD, Het Zusje, and TuttiFrutti share their experiences, discussing the thrill of placing stickers in high-visibility spots, the international sticker-trading scene, and collaborations that emerge from these interactions. Weijts describes how sticker artists select locations, connect with each other, and how a simple vinyl sticker becomes a signal: “I was here.”

The piece also touches on the occasional rivalry and the way stickers are sometimes removed or altered by others. Beyond creativity and collaboration, there’s also a tension: stickers are often illegal but simultaneously celebrated as street culture. This is evident in The Hague’s tram tunnel, where sticker-covered trams were featured in an exhibition.

A key theme is how sticker art connects people—both online and in the real world—creating an underground yet globally linked network. The NRC article beautifully illustrates how sticker art has its own dynamic and global network. It ultimately frames sticker art as more than just vandalism, but as a way of storytelling, self-expression, and marking presence in the city.

Want to read more? Check out the full piece here on NRC.nl (in Dutch).