New York City is the birthplace of modern graffiti, a dynamic and often controversial art form that has left an indelible mark on urban culture around the world. New York graffiti emerged as a form of expression for marginalized communities and has since become a major influence on global street art, fashion, music, and even political movements. From its humble beginnings in the late 1960s to its current place as a recognized art form, graffiti in New York has evolved dramatically, continually shaping the landscape of urban art.
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| New York graffiti. Photo: Kodyak Tisch, Wikimedia. |
This article explores the rich history of New York graffiti, its evolution, the key artists and movements that shaped it, and its significance today. We will also delve into the legal and social implications of graffiti in the city, highlighting both its controversial nature and its artistic legacy.
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| Three Boys in Brooklyn New York in June 1974. Photo: Danny Lyon, via Wikimedia. |
The Birth of New York Graffiti: The 1960s and 1970s
Graffiti, as we know it today, originated in the streets and subway tunnels of New York City during the late 1960s. It began as a form of expression for youth, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, who sought to leave their mark on the city. Using spray paint and markers, early graffiti writers began tagging their names or "handles" on subway cars, walls, and other public surfaces.
Key Figures of the Early New York Graffiti Scene
The first widely recognized graffiti writer in New York was TAKI 183, a teenager from Washington Heights who started tagging his name on the streets and subway trains in the early 1970s. His simple yet prolific tagging gained attention when a New York Times article published in 1971 helped bring the underground culture into the mainstream.
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| Taki 183 (right). Photo: Matteo X, Wikimedia Commons. |
TAKI 183's influence sparked a wave of young graffiti writers who began covering more and more surfaces with their names. Writers like JULIO 204, Tracy 168, and Stay High 149 quickly became legends in the graffiti community. These early pioneers used graffiti as a way to assert their presence in a city that often overlooked them. The movement grew rapidly, and by the mid-1970s, New York was experiencing a full-blown graffiti explosion.
The Golden Age of New York Graffiti: The 1980s
The 1980s marked what many consider the golden age of New York graffiti. During this decade, graffiti culture reached new heights of creativity and visibility, particularly on the city's subway system. Graffiti artists began to move beyond simple tags and develop more complex styles, known as "pieces" (short for masterpieces), which featured elaborate letters, characters, and vibrant colors.
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| 1980s graffiti, new york subway train. Photo: flickr.com/people/sweet_child_of_mine/ |
Subway Trains: The Ultimate Canvas
For many graffiti writers, subway trains became the ultimate canvas. Trains were seen as ideal because they allowed an artist's work to travel throughout the city, reaching a wider audience than a stationary wall. Graffiti artists spent hours in train yards, often risking arrest, injury, or death to cover the exterior of subway cars with their artwork. These massive, mobile canvases helped solidify New York graffiti as a distinct and influential art form.
Some of the most iconic graffiti crews of the 1980s included the Fabulous Five, TATS Cru, and the Wild Style crew, who pioneered the complex lettering and vibrant imagery that became synonymous with New York graffiti. The Wild Style movement, in particular, was instrumental in developing the intricate, interlocking letter designs and use of color that became standard in graffiti writing.
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| Wildstyle graffiti. Photo: KOchstudiO, wikimedia. |
Graffiti’s Connection to Hip-Hop
Graffiti in New York became closely tied to the emerging hip-hop culture of the 1980s, along with breakdancing, DJing, and rapping. Hip-hop provided a cultural framework for graffiti to flourish, as both were expressions of youth rebellion and creativity in the face of economic hardship and social marginalization. Graffiti writers often collaborated with DJs and rappers, using their art to create a visual representation of the burgeoning hip-hop movement.
During this time, graffiti also began to gain recognition as an art form, with galleries and museums in New York starting to feature the works of graffiti artists. The Fashion Moda gallery in the South Bronx, for example, was one of the first to showcase graffiti art, helping to bring it into the realm of fine art.
The Crackdown on Graffiti: The 1990s
As graffiti continued to proliferate across New York in the 1980s, city officials began to view it as a serious problem. The subway system, in particular, became a battleground between graffiti writers and the city. By the early 1990s, then-Mayor Ed Koch and his successor David Dinkins intensified anti-graffiti campaigns, aiming to "clean up" the city's public spaces.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched aggressive efforts to remove graffiti from subway cars and prevent graffiti writers from accessing train yards. Graffiti became synonymous with urban decay, and the city's war on graffiti escalated. The implementation of the "Clean Train Movement" in the early 1990s effectively marked the end of the subway graffiti era, as the MTA successfully removed nearly all graffiti from its trains.
While the crackdown led to a decline in graffiti on subways, it did not eliminate graffiti altogether. Artists simply shifted their focus to other public spaces, such as rooftops, walls, and freight trains. The loss of the subway canvas also forced many graffiti writers to explore new artistic avenues, leading to the development of street art and other forms of urban expression.
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| Subway train times square. Photo: National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons. |
The Rise of Street Art and the Legalization of Graffiti
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, New York graffiti had begun to evolve into street art. While traditional graffiti focused primarily on lettering and tagging, street art embraced a broader range of techniques, including stencils, posters, and murals. Artists like Shepard Fairey, Banksy, and NYC’s own Futura 2000 blurred the lines between graffiti and fine art, bringing urban art into the mainstream.
During this time, graffiti also gained a greater level of acceptance as an artistic discipline. Neighborhoods like Williamsburg in Brooklyn became known for their vibrant street art scenes, and the city began to see a proliferation of commissioned murals and legal graffiti walls. Festivals such as the Meeting of Styles, held in New York annually, provided graffiti artists with the opportunity to create large-scale murals legally, further legitimizing their craft.
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| Mural in Williamsburg, New York. Jim.henderson, Wikimedia. |
The Current State of New York Graffiti
Today, New York graffiti remains a vibrant and ever-evolving art form. While the days of illegal subway graffiti are largely over, the city's streets continue to serve as a canvas for graffiti writers and street artists alike. Murals now adorn buildings throughout neighborhoods like Bushwick, the Lower East Side, and Harlem, transforming once-neglected areas into open-air galleries.
At the same time, graffiti in New York continues to face challenges. Despite its growing acceptance in some circles, the city still implements strict anti-graffiti measures, including fines and arrests for those caught tagging public or private property. However, the tension between graffiti as vandalism and as art continues to fuel the creativity and passion of the city's graffiti community.
In recent years, social media has played a significant role in shaping the graffiti scene. Platforms like Instagram have allowed graffiti writers to share their work with a global audience, further blurring the lines between street art and commercial art.
Iconic Graffiti Artists and Crews of New York
Several artists and crews have played pivotal roles in the development of New York graffiti. Their work not only shaped the city's graffiti scene but also influenced the global street art movement.
1. Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat, though primarily known as a painter, started his artistic career as a graffiti writer under the tag SAMO. His graffiti, which carried cryptic messages and social commentary, gained widespread attention in the late 1970s, leading to his transition into the world of fine art. Basquiat remains one of the most influential figures to emerge from the New York graffiti scene.
2. Keith Haring
Keith Haring rose to prominence in the 1980s with his bold, cartoon-like figures, which he often painted illegally in New York's subway stations. Haring's work bridged the gap between graffiti and contemporary art, making him one of the most recognizable graffiti artists of his time.
3. Futura 2000
Futura 2000 is considered one of the pioneers of abstract graffiti. He introduced a more abstract, painterly approach to graffiti, moving away from traditional lettering. His influence extended beyond graffiti into collaborations with the music and fashion industries, making him a key figure in both the graffiti and street art movements.
4. TATS Cru
Known as "The Mural Kings," TATS Cru is a legendary graffiti crew from the South Bronx. They started out as illegal graffiti writers but have since gained international recognition for their large-scale murals, working on both commercial and artistic projects. TATS Cru's work can be seen all over New York, and they remain an influential force in the graffiti community.
Graffiti and the Law: The Legal Struggle
Despite the growing acceptance of graffiti as an art form, it remains illegal in most cases when done without permission. New York City continues to have strict laws against graffiti, and the city regularly removes tags and illegal murals. However, commissioned work and legal graffiti walls offer opportunities for artists to create without facing legal consequences.
Programs like the "Graffiti Free NYC" initiative focus on removing graffiti from public spaces, while organizations like 5Pointz (before its closure) offered a haven for legal graffiti. The tension between illegal street art and sanctioned murals continues to shape the future of New York graffiti.
The Future of New York Graffiti
As New York graffiti continues to evolve, it remains at the forefront of urban art. The city’s artists are constantly pushing boundaries, experimenting with new techniques, and merging graffiti with other artistic mediums. With the rise of digital platforms, New York graffiti is no longer confined to the streets—it has become a global phenomenon.
While legal battles over graffiti persist, there is no denying its importance as a form of expression. The legacy of New York graffiti is one of resilience, innovation, and creativity. It has transformed from an underground movement into a global art form, and its future continues to inspire artists and audiences alike.
FAQs About New York Graffiti
1. What is the history of New York graffiti?
- New York graffiti started in the late 1960s and gained momentum in the 1970s, emerging from youth culture in the city. It became a global movement, especially through subway graffiti in the 1980s.
2. Who are some famous New York graffiti artists?
- Famous graffiti artists include Jean-Michel Basquiat (SAMO), Keith Haring, Futura 2000, and the TATS Cru.
3. Where can I see graffiti in New York today?
- Notable spots include the Bushwick Collective, the Lower East Side, and Harlem. Legal murals and street art festivals also highlight graffiti culture.
4. Is graffiti legal in New York City?
- Graffiti is generally illegal in New York when done without permission. However, legal murals and commissioned projects are allowed.
5. What is the connection between graffiti and hip-hop in New York?
- Graffiti, like breakdancing, DJing, and rap, is a core element of hip-hop culture, originating in the same neighborhoods and serving as a form of expression for marginalized youth.
6. How has New York graffiti evolved over time?
- New York graffiti evolved from simple tags on subway cars to elaborate street murals, blending with street art and gaining recognition as a legitimate art form.
7. What is the significance of the subway in New York graffiti history?
- Subway trains were a major canvas for graffiti artists in the 1970s and 1980s, making their work visible across the city and helping graffiti gain global attention.
8. What role do graffiti crews play in New York’s graffiti scene?
- Crews like TATS Cru and the Wild Style crew helped shape the artistic and social dynamics of New York graffiti, supporting each other in creating large-scale works.
9. Can you commission a graffiti artist in New York?
- Yes, many graffiti artists now accept commissions for legal murals, working with property owners and organizations to create public art.
10. How does New York City deal with illegal graffiti?
- The city has strict anti-graffiti laws and regularly removes illegal graffiti through programs like Graffiti Free NYC. However, commissioned works are allowed.