Ever found some money behind the wall paper? It happens to some people.
Developers of a run-down loft business discovered they had more than the spaciousness they had hoped for in their New York City’s SoHo building.
They found a large, genuine collaborative artwork by Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Fab 5 Freddy, Futura 2000 and other contemporary artists behind a faux wall. Collectively, these are the very artists who started the graffiti movements, which makes the piece historically valuable.
The work is a genuine demonstration of the artists partying together. Basquiat was friends with Edit deAk, an art magazine editor, who lived at 151 Wooster in the early 80’s, when it was probably little more than a squat.
The mural was on a kitchen – bathroom wall. The mural was created in the late 70’s – early 80s’s and was excellently preserved. It’s pretty wild to discover a genuine artwork by famous artists behind your kitchen cabinets. So, never mind their RE blurb at the end of the video. We appreciate the video.
This was back in June 2007. What has happened to the mural since?
It is now the centerpiece of Gallery 151, which was opened last December.
Who are the artists who established the New York City graffiti movement?
The style of Graffiti Artist Keith Haring (1958 – 1990) has become so universally well known, that it has become a visual language on its own. He moved from chalk, to graffiti paint, to canvas. His first mega fame was build upon ‘Radiant Baby’ in 1980. Haring was an openly gay, social activist. Interested in art at an early age where he grew up in Pennsylvania, he moved to New York City where his subway art fame began. He had quite a bit of formal education in graphic design.
Currently popular and influential artist Jean Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) was first known as New York City graffiti artist, and then as Neo-expressionist artist. In contrast with Haring, Basquiat was a high school drop-out.
Futura 2000 (1955- ) was an early New York City graffiti artist, painting in subways in the early ’70s. He is now a graphic designer and gallery artist. One of the most distinctive features about Futura’s work is his abstract approach to graffiti art, while others’ focus was lettering. His works feature thin, fine lines. These days, Futura 2000 a designer, illustrator and gallery artist.
Fab 5 Freddy ~ real name: Fred Brathwaite (1960- ) offered another angle to the team. He is an American Hip hop historian, Hip hop pioneer besides being a former graffiti artist in New York City who was active in in the ’70s- early ’80s. Fab 5 Freddy’ s credited with creating exposure of Hip-hop beyond The Bronx.
By A. Lee, 2008
Click image to see the video
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