If you are interested in knowing the story behind the famous Graffiti artists, here are some names to keep in mind. These legends of the street art scene include Daze, BSA, CRASH, and RISK. These artists are credited with creating a huge wave of Graffiti in New York City, as well as contributing to the growth of the street art genre in general. These are all icons of the New York art scene.
Graffiti artist DAZE
The graffiti artist DAZE started his career in the 1970s. He started painting subways and trains, but his work was considered illegal. In the ’80s, he was introduced to a new medium, the studio. Sam Esses, an art collector, wanted to introduce this gifted artist to a new environment. Eventually, Daze had his first solo show at Fashion Moda, a gallery in the Bronx.
Graffiti artist CRASH
The legendary New York City street artist CRASH has been hailed as one of the most influential artists in contemporary graffiti. Born in 1961, CRASH began spray-painting subway cars at the age of thirteen and has been considered one of the foremost figures in the street art movement artlegends. At the height of his fame, Crash created full-scale images and was known for emblazoning his name on walls and subway trains in 3D block lettering. His influence is present in streetwear, wall art, and all sorts of products.
Graffiti artist RISK
RISK, also known as Kelly “RISK” Gravel, is one of the first graffiti artists to pioneer “hitting up the heavens” and other forms of graffito. He painted on freeway overpasses and freeway signs to spread his name across the country and even tagged freight trains. Raised in commercial culture, RISK grew up wanting to be as famous as Coca-Cola. His work is now more commercial than ever, and his brand THIRD RAIL has been featured in a variety of music videos.
Graffiti artist Dondi White
One of the most famous works by Graffiti artist Dondi White was the Children of the Grave series, which covered three subway cars. The series was inspired by the Black Sabbath song of the same name. These pieces have become legendary in the world of graffiti, and are often compared to the iconic work of Van Gogh. It was photographed by Martha Cooper and Francisco Reyes II and is regarded as one of the most important pieces of graffiti history.
Graffiti artist Rammellzee
During the 1970s, graffiti artist Rammellzee was a prolific presence across the five boroughs of New York City. He became famous for tagging the A train, a long-snaking subway line that snakes from Far Rockaway in Queens all the way to the Bronx. In the early 1980s, Rammellzee became part of the burgeoning hip-hop scene in Downtown Manhattan, releasing the 12-inch single Beat Bop and featuring in Charlie Ahearn’s Wild Style film.
Graffiti writer Rammellzee
One of the most famous legends in the history of urban art is the story of Rammellzee, the acclaimed New York City graffiti writer and MC who died in 2010. Born and raised in the Far Rockaway projects, the community was notorious for its crime and alien street identity. After his death, many other artists began to associate the name with the artist, who was known as the Magic Scriptulator.
Graffiti writer Crash
Graffiti artist CRASH was born in the Bronx, New York, and began painting subway cars at the age of 13. In the 1980s, he curated the infamous “Graffiti Art Success for America” exhibition at Fashion Moda, where he brought graffiti to the level of art. CRASH’s collaborations with Keith Haring included murals for Figuration Libre and British American Tobacco. Today, many of his works are featured in the permanent collections of many museums around the world.
