Graffiti history

The first NYC tagger to go all-city, TAKI 183 has achieved mythical status as the father of modern day graffiti. We were thrilled to meet up with him last week. Your name TAKI is -- according to what we’ve read -- a traditional Greek nickname for Demetrius, and 183 refers to the street where you lived in Washington Heights. How old were you when you first got your name up? And what was the first surface you hit? I was about 16. The first surface I remember tagging was the bus terminal on…

Given the monumental influence graffiti art has had on our popular culture, from music, film, and television to fine art, toys, and clothing, it’s easy to forget the form’s humble roots and remarkable evolution -- how what started as a way for bored kids to pass the time grew into a movement larger than anyone could possibly have imagined. Indeed, long before the giant murals, fashion runways, larger-than-life art shows and unlikely street art millionaires, modern graffiti art got its start…

The ‘60s and ‘70s mark the birth of graffiti and street art; we see the cultures develop out of their infancies and take their first steps to adulthood.

Given the monumental influence graffiti art has had on our popular culture, from music, film, and television to fine art, toys, and clothing, it’s easy to forget the form’s humble roots and remarkable evolution -- how what started as a way for bored kids to pass the time grew into a movement larger than anyone could possibly have imagined. Indeed, long before the giant murals, fashion runways, larger-than-life art shows and unlikely street art millionaires, modern graffiti art got its start…

There's nothing wrong with a little good, old-fashioned street graffiti as long as it's clever. And this is what this photo gallery is all about. This ...

The BMT Jamaica line, late 1970s (Courtesy NYT) PODCAST #111 Art. Vandalism. Freedom. Blight. Creativity. Crime. Graffiti has divided New Yorkers since it first appeared on walls, signs and lampposts in the late 1960s. Its ascent paralleled the city’s sunken financial fortunes, allowing simple markings to evolve into elaborate pieces of art. The only problem?… Read More

Explore graffiti's evolution from 1960s NY origins, the emergence of Wild Style, its bond with hip-hop, and journey from streets to art galleries.

Explore Sepavo's 559 photos on Flickr!

“*STAR!”. Nice tag!