I’m not going to lie, for a long time my opinion of graffiti tagging was, let’s just say, low. I never really understood, or for that matter appreciated the idea of simply scrawling something over and over again. I did however appreciate the skill of graffiti artists and also believe that without graffiti there wouldn’t be street art (although most graffiti artists shun the street art world – but that’s a whole other story)

That opinion over the years has changed. I think there’s something almost poetic to the idea of leaving your mark in this world. It feels like an attempt to say ‘I was here, don’t forget me’. In the world of tagging there is of course competition. Who can be the most prolific, who can get it into places that were once considered impossible, and in this world there is one person who seems to be at the top of the food chain and that’s the notorious 10Foot.

In graffiti circles, 10Foot is what Banksy is to street art.

Who Is 10Foot? The Enigmatic Graffiti Artist Dominating the Streets

What sets 10Foot apart from other graffiti taggers is not just the sheer volume of his work but the audacity of his placements. His name is scrawled across bridges, rooftops, train lines, and high-rise buildings in cities all over the world. The tag has become an enigma, its simple yet bold lettering appearing in places that often seem inaccessible. It has left many people wondering: Who is 10Foot? How does he manage to tag such impossible locations? And why does he do it?

While many people dismiss tagging as nothing more than vandalism, those in the know recognize it as a relentless pursuit of visibility, an unspoken competition among graffiti writers to dominate the urban landscape. 10Foot has transcended the ordinary, elevating his tag into something more akin to urban folklore. His presence looms large, his name a permanent fixture on the concrete canvases of modern cities.

A Magazine Without Ads: The Ultimate Artistic Intervention

But recently, 10Foot has taken his mission even further, making the leap from the streets to mainstream culture in a way that nobody saw coming. His most audacious move to date? Taking over The Big Issue magazine, the UK’s iconic publication that supports the homeless and vulnerable people. For one issue only, 10Foot has hijacked the pages, covering them in his signature tag, commentary, and raw artistic energy.

Within this ground breaking issue you’ll find no advertising at all. In fact 10Foot donated artwork to the Big Issue to make it advert free and therefore a 100% takeover of the magazine.

The takeover blurs the line between graffiti and contemporary media, forcing readers to engage with the underground world of tagging in a way they’ve never have before. His presence within the pages of The Big Issue is a paradox: a symbol of defiance and disorder colliding with a publication that represents resilience and social change. Is it an act of defiance? A bold artistic intervention? Or, perhaps, a reflection of the very struggle that The Big Issue represents—a fight for recognition, for a voice, for visibility?

And then, as if the Big Issue stunt wasn’t enough, comes the secret exhibition in London. In true 10Foot fashion, details were scarce. No official white walled gallery space—just a whisper in the right circles and a location that was only disclosed today via his Instagram page. From the short video released it appears to be in a disused tube station in Piccadilly Circus.

The exhibition, titled ‘Long Dark Tunnel’ features work by 10Foot and other legendary graffiti artists including Tox and Fume.

Is Graffiti Art or Protest? 10Foot Challenges the Status Quo

Unlike conventional street art, which is often carefully planned and strategically placed, tagging is about immediacy. It’s about staking a claim on the urban environment in a way that demands to be seen. And that’s exactly what 10Foot has done, both in the streets and now in the art world. His work challenges the very notion of what graffiti is and what it can be. Is it art? Is it protest? Or is it just one person’s way of ensuring they are never forgotten?

Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: 10Foot is no longer just a name on a wall. He is a movement, a cultural force, and a reminder that in a world that often tries to erase the voices of the unseen, sometimes all it takes is a can of spray paint and the will to make your mark.

Grab your copy of the 10Foot takeover of The Big Issue via a street vendor or you can get it directly from The Big Issue website.

The Long Dark Tunnel exhibition opens today and runs until 13^th April. Venue – Piccadilly Circus in a disused tube station (based on the video released by 10Foot today – I think 😊)

UPDATE: I've just spotted this on Paul Insect's Instagram page. It appears to be a poster advertising the exhibition with the address 33 Regent Street: