Thank you so much to Princeton Architectural Press for providing me with an eARC of The Guerilla Art Guide via NetGalley!

I love love love making art, but I always wonder about small ways I can make a difference with my art — especially in today’s world & this book was so useful in finding these ways.

There are a lot of tips & sources, along with projects you can take on! This is definitely a good handbook when it comes to Guerilla art! My favorite projects were the ones that delivered sweet & positive messages to those who may come across it!

Guerilla Art

A positive way for children to begin to develop and define their unique identity, guerilla Art is packed with imaginative ideas to help budding artists express themselves.

There have been reviewers who claimed that the book was promoting "illegal activity" because the book advised youth to avoid the police, however I can guarantee you that EVERY young non-white youth (especially the boys) has received this same warning from their own Mama numerous times. "Why avoid a cop if you are not breaking the law?" Learning the answer is as easy as picking up a newspaper or reading a list of the names of every non-white unarmed law abiding child killed by police 🚓🚨 in the United States in recent years.

5 stars from this reviewer, and this book motivated me to try some of the fun ideas in this book. 😉🌹

LOVED the concept and the ideas about reclaiming space. It would be much richer if there were photos of the exercises rather than simply the cartoon sketches.

Also, the suggestion for knitting tags needs to have be much more fleshed out, it needed photos and more explanation

Loved this guide into putting art out into the world around us. It's a really good introduction to the idea of guerilla art, and I love the way that you can approach it in many different ways depending on your comfort level. This book is also a great encouragement to look for the art in the everyday!

One of my kids had (and loved and thoroughly trashed) a copy of Wreck This Journal and if this book had existed back then, I'm sure it would've been enjoyed just as much. I picked it up mainly because I couldn't reist the idea of grafitting a wall (almost definitely something on our own property) with moss. Flipping through the pages brought me back to the craft books of my childhood, with directions for potato stamps and stencils and other familiar ideas. There's also a lot that I hadn't seen before. And the best part -- the author doesn't tell you what the message you're spreading to the world should be!

The only thing that seemed to rub me the wrong way about this book was the Guerilla Etiquette section, pg 21-25. It is such a visual read with the hand drawn icons, that if the reader isn’t reading all of the passages carefully it seems to suggest vandalism when page 25 says to look out for police. In that area, the author talks about working with community leaders, the ones who are hiring and getting artist involvement. (Think, a drawn icon of that artist to community leaders conversation would help offset the ick felt when seeing icons only to “watch for police”!) And, even better would be more writing on that topic if how artists can engage their community to support them. They could use it to engage community members to come out, play hide and seek to find the various “guerilla art”! Otherwise, I enjoyed the book, it’s inspiring recipes for artists.

A nice repackaging of ideas from Keri Smith's previous books and some new ones. I was not overall blown away, but it is a good book for someone who has not read one of her previous offerings.

The Guerrilla Art Guide is a must for any creative living in this world at this time. I love how it explores the purpose of guerrilla art and the value of adding creativity to the world. I also loved all the project ideas. I'm not the kind of person who would go out and put art out in public spaces however it prompted me to think about how I can incorporate the project prompts into my art practice. I definitely recommend this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, like I enjoyed Keri Smith's previous work before and I found this book to be both inspiring and well written. I definitely think that some parents might take issue with some of the ideas presented by Smith, but, honestly it's up to parents to talk to their kids and make informed decisions together about what is safe to do or not do in this very very contensious world.

I think that this is such a cool book. It has many great ideas for making positive change in the environment, empowering self and making a difference. Some of the ideas remind me of how art can be used as a transformative community-based option. I also very much love the individual ideas and practicality of the book from the illustrations to the clear and simple directions. Another positive is down-to-earth ways to create your own (you-name-it!). The author offers a ton of ideas for easy-to-make items that you would not think of making - from wheat paste to stickers. I think this would be a wonderful book to adapt for a summer camp experience (as long as it is adult-guided). That being said, I would buy the book for myself or as a gift. I love the gardening bomb idea for a friend of mine. Now, for my recommendations - I indicated that I could not recommend it for a class or curriculum or to students because it does not quite fit into a guide for teaching in my area. I am also worried about some of the training that teacher candidates would need to implement some of this work. For example, there would need to be some background on street art and eve Dada art before they could get to the " How-do-I-implement this for students?". I think those who are studying art education might get something out of this, but not students in a regular education program. I could see one or two students enjoying this as a personal read. But I would not put it in a syllabus for the courses that I teach. On the positive side, I think this book is great even though I would not necessarily use it in a course. I think this is more of a faculty read for really creative faculty. members or an individual read. I think this book would be amazing at gift stores or indie book stores.

What I also think is that this book is a certain taste in terms of marketing for parents. While some parents might think this is cool, others may worry about the public places and permissions, etc. We live in a very different world than that of the street artists before us. I love that the author spells out what and what not to do. I still think that there will be parents who worry about this. I think that is OK because it is a certain taste.

Finally, I would like to offer some sort of suggestion. If I may, I would suggest a few good ideas for drawing even if it is a kind of non-drawing approach to drawing. Some of the street art or guerilla art allows the artist to repeat some symbols that are quizzical to the onlooker, but that is why the onlooker is interested. I feel that a stencil these days is far less interesting than an original weird symbol that is not a gang symbol, but a symbol made by the artist for a purpose. I just do not see much about drawing. Maybe that is a different book? But I would love to see a little bit (Like the outline of a man on the sidewalk all over New York). I think I'm dating myself, but it might have been in the 90's.
I would recommend it! I I just think this book is clever and original. I love the concept.

Though most of this book did not feel like it presented new information, I did enjoy "The portable idea dispenser."

I've been a big fan off Keri Smith since Wreck This Journal, so I was very excited to check this book out. It is very on brand for Keri Smith, full of interesting ways to make art out in the world. I especially like the home made sticker recipes and wish tree and plan trying them with my kids this summer. I took off one star for encouraging kids to go out and break the law, the state of the world today just doesn't call for that.

This was a super fun and inspirational introduction to guerilla art found on NetGalley. I am not an artist by any means but this gives me the confidence to start small while slowly trying to introduce my art to the world. The activities are easy to do with household items and a fun way to get kids engaged in the arts while protecting the environment.

Like Keri's Wreck This journals, this book has some great prompts and ideas to get your creativity going! Cleverly worded and open for interpretation, creatives of all kinds could find something in Keri's books.

What makes this one unique is the informational and historical reading sections. "A Word on the Value of Impermanence" really spoke directly to me.

"Work that is Impermanent reminds us that NOTHING IN LIFE IS PERMANENT, that every state is temporary and transitory. Contemplating this concept teaches us to embrace change in our life, instead of working against it."

I attended an arts workshop for teachers last fall, and since then I am always being reminded that art is an ongoing movement. Beautiful and bold. Whether your expression is just for you or for your community or for the world, make it matter.

“By adding to the landscape I am reclaiming it as my own.” This book teaches readers how to ethically affect a busy and overstimulating world in a creative or thought provoking way. It’s fun, whimsical, informative, and honestly pretty important. This is a cool gift book for any young person wanting to either make art, or contribute to positive change in an actionable way.

This guide provides valuable content for both beginners and more experienced artists alike! It starts off with a quick history of guerilla art and its ethos. Before leading into easy and quick projects, then branching out into more complex ideas. All projects have detailed steps and supply lists. Some even have templates included in the book! All projects are as eco-friendly as possible, with a strong emphasis on leaving no permanent mark.
As a disabled person with limited mobility, I was worried there would be nothing in this that I could do. I was pleasantly surprised that it were a number of projects that are very accessible! I am now excited to incorporate some of them into my life.

An Invitation to Create, Disrupt, and Inspire—One Bold Mark at a Time

The Guerilla Art Guide by Keri Smith is more than a handbook—it's a manifesto for imaginative rebellion. With playful yet purposeful energy, Smith empowers readers of all experience levels to engage with their surroundings in radically creative ways. Whether you're a teenager experimenting with expression or a seasoned artist craving reconnection with your craft, this guide offers an accessible entry point into the vibrant world of public art.

Packed with hands-on exercises and low-cost DIY techniques—from stenciling and wheat-pasting to crafting seed bombs and sticker art—this book demystifies guerilla art while encouraging safety, responsibility, and deep intention. Smith's philosophy is clear: every act of creativity, no matter how small, has the power to shift perspective and spark change.

By blending step-by-step guidance with encouraging prompts and an emphasis on non-judgment, The Guerilla Art Guide is both a toolkit and a call to action. It's a book that insists: your message matters—now go put it out into the world.

A brilliant resource for educators, creators, and dreamers alike, this is the kind of book that will never gather dust. It’s meant to be dog-eared, paint-splattered, and carried into the streets.

Thank you to Keri Smith, Chronicle Books, and Princeton Architectural Press for the eARC.

The Guerilla Art Guide is best enjoyed by absolute beginners who don’t know what they’re looking for. This simple guidebook includes instructions for wheat-pasting, stenciling, etc.

The Guerrilla Art Guide is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to explore art in new and exciting ways. I absolutely love the simple yet powerful exercises throughout the book; they're perfect for unleashing creativity without needing a lot of resources or experience. The guide is full of inspiring ideas that encourage experimenting with different forms of art and engaging with the world around you.

I’m excited to use this book with the creative teenagers in my life. It’s a great way to get them thinking outside the box and experimenting with art in a fun, hands-on way. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide is a wonderful tool to spark your creativity and take it to new places.

Once the physical copy is available, I’ll definitely be purchasing it! A huge thank you to the publisher for providing the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.