Getty | Writing on the Wall

Writing on walls has existed in many forms since ancient times, with examples of graffiti dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Whether as vandalism or high art, a form of communication, devotion, or advertising, humans have always wanted to leave their mark on the infrastructure. Join two of Los Angeles’s most influential street artists, Defer and Prime, and Iraqi artist Osama Sadiq in conversation with rare books curator David Brafman as they explore the interplay of words and images, a tradition that began thousands of years ago. Complements the exhibition Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins.