Urban Junkies London - Thursday November 8, 2007

Maybe it's just Banksy or maybe it's the top dollar being traded for newbie taggers, but whatever it is, street art seems officially to be for the grown-ups.

Not convinced? Head down to the great spray can playground of East London, where everyone's favourite stencil artist has single-handedly turned graffiti-seeking into a spectator sport. (Loving the Tower Hamlets stamp guys.)

Also, check out the newly relocated Black Rat gallery, featuring Brooklyn-based Swoon's street camp installation (think 2-D peeps in 3-D squalor), and Monumental at Stolen Space, which is exhibiting work by the godfather of guerilla art, Shepard Fairey.

And wrestling away the East's monopoly, two new galleries are jumping on board.

Art Republic at Tom Tom caters to the moneyed collector, offering works by Banksy, James Cauty and other established politicos. Meanwhile, hole-in-the wall Artichoke Ltd. trades original works from the likes of Blam and London-based Remi. An original print, complete with a piece of much desired street cred, can be yours for a mere 50 quid.

This is one art ladder we may actually be able to get on.

Black Rat Press, 83 Rivington Street, EC2
Stolen Space Gallery, Dray Walk, 91 Brick Lane, E1
Artichoke Ltd, 2 Ganton Street, W1
Art Republic, 42 New Compton Street, WC2

by EDX

See the Coliseum, the pope, & the Spanish Steps made entirely out of Pizza Express dough at Museum of London, EC2. 10am-5.50pm. Free.

Floridita hosts the best of this year's Cuban Music Awards with performances, DJs & rum galore. 7pm. 100 Wardour St, W1. £18 online.

Culture Calendar picks for today: What Is Cinema? at BFI & The Lodger screening at Royal Academy of Music.

75 rare drawings join the Wallace from the treasured Rothschild Collection. 10am-5pm. Hertford House, Man-chester Square, W1. Free.

Be among the first to catch the finalists of this year's ever-praised Photographic Portrait Prize at NPG. 10am-9pm. St Martin's Pl, WC2.

Join Michele Roberts & Carol Robertson's new exploration of literary & artistic London at the Broadway Bookshop. 6pm. 6 Broadway Mkt, E8.

The first JD Set at Luminaire has Air Traffic, Lightspeed Champion & Friendly Fires on guitar duty. 7:30pm. 311 High Road, NW6. £8 here.

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