Art Buff, Street mural in Old High Street, Folkestone, United Kingdom
Art Buff is a mural in Folkestone's Creative Quarter depicting a woman wearing headphones gazing at an empty plinth with painted graffiti beside it. The composition was created using black and white spray paint on a concrete wall.
This work was created in 2014 during the Folkestone Triennial and later traveled to Miami before being legally returned to Folkestone in 2015. The return marked a turning point in how street art ownership and community rights were recognized in the town.
The title plays on a double meaning: "buff" refers both to an art enthusiast and to the practice of painting over unwanted street art. This wordplay is woven into how the scene is depicted.
The mural is located in the courtyard of 69 The Old High Street within the Creative Quarter and is freely accessible every day. The site is centrally situated in the area with no admission requirements for viewing.
A British court ruling ordered the work's return from Miami and set a legal precedent for protecting street art as public property. This decision made the piece a landmark moment in recognizing artists' rights and community ownership.
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