Graffiti as urban art is a difficult concept to pigeonhole, from its conception as a cultural construct, to its categorization, given the heterogeneity of its creation. However, these transitory works have a representation in a society that not only interprets and values their message, but also dignifies it as art. This work examines the relationship between urban art created in Puerto Vallarta, specifically the interventions made in the Graffiti Fest event, and the perception and appreciation of the community living in the spaces where the works were shaped. Based on an open definition of art, the institutionalization, representation, and recognition of the works by the community are investigated. The article proposes a conceptual review of urban art and graffiti to establish their value as art in relation to their context and appropriation. The Graffiti Fest is studied through some interviews with the authors, with the purpose of identifying their activity as a form of artistic expression and dissemination that seeks to bring closer to society the concept of graffiti as a form of art. In addition, we analyzed the appropriation of the community through an interview applied to the population, conducive to determine their conception of graffiti as art and the value of the works that have been produced. The results show that the identification of these works as art comes from the institutionalization and linkage to street mural painting and artistic graffiti.
