1970s-80s New York City Graffiti
I was a teenager growing up in Queens during the ’80s. As a graffiti writer, this period was hugely influential. Before graffiti became global, there was something so wild, creative, and pure about the marks and gestures from that era. It’s where many of the styles and techniques that are now ubiquitous were developed. It was also a time when the city was rundown and falling apart, which allowed free exploration. The late ’70s style I’m referring to is embodied by Phase 2, a fairly reclusive artist from that era. In the ’80s, graffiti writers like Doze, part of the Rock Steady breakdancing crew, and Dez, known in the hip-hop world as DJ Kay Slay, lay stylistic foundations. A lot of the graffiti from that era deserves to be recognized as the beginnings of a new American art form and belongs in a museum.
Ellsworth Kelly: Photographs
Ellsworth Kelly’s photography book was published in 2016, the year after he died. He mainly photographed human-made structures, such as the roofs of houses or barns. His photographs resemble his paintings, showing clearly that he drew inspiration from these forms as he walked around. I love all of Kelly’s art—the paintings, sketches, and postcards—but the photographs are framed perfectly. As an artist, it’s easy to experience a lot of self-doubt, and I find it affirming to see how Kelly translated his photography into his work as a painter. The book is out print but you can view a gallery of his photographs here.
Style Wars
This well-known documentary from the 1980s helped graffiti gain worldwide recognition. Despite being outsiders, professional filmmakers Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant give an amazing snapshot of New York City and its graffiti scene of that era. In the same way that surfers of a particular era will jokingly recite their favorite lines from a Hollywood movie like North Shore, graffiti writers of my generation keep their favorite lines from Style Wars in their back pockets. It’s perhaps less referenced nowadays, but it still stands as a fantastic piece of documentary filmmaking.
Agnès B.
A French fashion designer from Paris, Agnès B. has been hugely supportive of graffiti writers and street artists for decades. I’ve known her long enough to see many of the people she supported become household names in the art world, such as Harmony Korine and Ryan McGinley. She’s someone who has always followed her vision regardless of trends. Even as the fashion world has undergone significant consolidation into large conglomerates, she’s remained independent and continues to support artists.
Futura 2000
I’m going to say Futura 2000 is the first person to paint an entire subway car (even though some graffiti-nerd historians out there might dispute that). It was an entirely abstract painting with no letters to tie things together, just colors and shapes. He famously made live art for The Clash and was part of the New York hip-hop scene. He told me a story about getting into Moscow’s Red Square before the fall of the Berlin Wall and breakdancing to share the spirit of creativity at the height of the Soviet Union. He isn’t someone with a big creative manifesto, but his work paved the way for many graffiti writers and artists who went on to build careers in fashion, design, and commercial art at a time when that was uncommon.
For more, read “Big Drip,” a profile of Costello written by Kyle DeNuccio, in TSJ 34.4.
