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Al Diaz Art

American, b. 1959
Al Diaz is an influential, first generation New York City graffiti artist, who later became a text oriented street artist whose career spans 5 decades. Diaz is best known for his collaboration with Jean Michel Basquiat on SAMO(c), graffiti that appeared in lower Manhattan from 1977 to 1979. SAMO(c) initially known for its wit and sarcastic humor, became a globally recognized graffito after Basquiat’s rise to fame. Diaz currently works with the WET PAINT Service Change Alert signs used throughout the New York City subway system — cutting out individual letters from multiple signs to create clever, surreal and sometimes poignant anagrams. The reworked signage is then posted back onto subway walls. His earlier WET PAINT work is featured in Nicholas Ganz’s new book “Street Messages”. Diaz exhibits regularly and has been a featured speaker on a variety of panel discussions, including at The New School, The Museum of the City of New York, NOLA Arts Festival in New Orleans, and The New York Public Library as part of a discussion panel on the Basquiat Notebooks. Al Diaz lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
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Artist: Al Diaz
IT WILL NOT DISAPPEAR IF WE JUST IGNORE IT
By Al Diaz
Located in North Adams, MA
"IT WILL NOT DISAPPEAR IF WE JUST IGNORE IT," Al Diaz, 2022 Silkscreen on 290 gram Coventry Rag paper with hand deckled edges Dimensions: 18" x 37" An edition of 10 Signed and numbered by the Artist Note that the edition number you receive may be different than the one in the photograph. Al Díaz’s career spans five decades. Born and raised Puerto Rican in New York City, by age 15 he was an influential first-generation subway graffiti artist known as “BOMB-ONE.” His friendship and artistic collaboration with high school schoolmate Jean-Michel Basquiat on SAMO, (a late 70s Avant-garde graffiti tag project) has been noted often in contemporary art history. Díaz later contributed percussion to numerous musical recordings and performances, including Basquiat’s historic 1983 record, “Beat Bop,” (considered to be one of the earliest hip-hop albums). Díaz is sought-after as an expert of New York City counterculture art. He appears often in publications, as a highlighted speaker for a variety of panel discussions at universities and museums (including Smithsonian Institution, the Brooklyn Museum, The New School and Christie’s Education), and has been featured in several films, including Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat, BBC’s American Masters — Basquiat: Rage to Riches and Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child. In 2018, Díaz authored "SAMO …SINCE 1978", an in-depth, color illustrated history of the street art legacy that he began with Basquiat in the late 70s. A notebook that Díaz made with Basquiat in his teens is currently held in the collection of the Yale University Beinecke Library.
Category

2010s Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Screen

SAMO(c) As an End to.../ We Await a New Time (Double Sided Original Artwork)
By Al Diaz
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Amazing double sided Original Artwork by Al Diaz. Al Diaz is also famous for being part of the 70’s- 80’s SAMO© duo with Jean Michel Basquiat. One side has thought provoking text by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Paper, Adhesive, Tape, Board

SAMO(c)…4 The Sedate... (Original Artwork)
By Al Diaz
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Very cool SAMO© Original Artwork by Al Diaz. Al Diaz is also famous for being the other half of 70’s- 80’s SAMO© duo along with Jean Michel Basquiat. Large text hand written in perma...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Board, Permanent Marker

SAMO(c) As an Alternative... /Went 2 Big City...(Double Sided Original Artwork)
By Al Diaz
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Amazing double sided Original Artwork by Al Diaz. Al Diaz is also famous for being the other half of 70’s- 80’s legendary SAMO© duo along with Jean Michel Basquiat. One side has Went...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Paper, Board, Permanent Marker

SAMO(c) 4 the Indirectly.../ I Stare at a Wall (Double Sided Original Artwork)
By Al Diaz
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Large double sided Original Artwork by Al Diaz. Al Diaz is also famous for being the other half of 70’s- 80’s SAMO© duo along with Jean Michel Basquiat. One side has I Stare At The W...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Paper, Board, Permanent Marker

SAMO(c) As an End... /Far 2 Embarrassing 2 Admit (Double Sided Original Artwork)
By Al Diaz
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Amazing double sided Original Artwork by Al Diaz. Al Diaz is also famous for being the other half of 70’s- 80’s SAMO© duo along with Jean Michel Basquiat. One side has Far 2 Embarras...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Paper, Board, Permanent Marker

SAMO(c) As a. Suggestive.../ Accept and Embrace..(Double Sided Original Artwork)
By Al Diaz
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Amazing double sided Original Mixed Media Artwork by Al Diaz. Al Diaz is known for being the other half of the world famous SAMO© duo along with Jean Michel Basquiat in the 70's- 80'...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Paper, Board, Permanent Marker

"ALL WAR IS IN BAD TASTE"
By Al Diaz
Located in North Adams, MA
"ALL WAR IS IN BAD TASTE," Al Diaz, 2022 Silkscreen on 320 gram Coventry Rag paper Dimensions: 14" x 20" Signed and numbered by the Artist in pencil An edition of 50 Al Díaz’s career spans five decades. Born and raised Puerto Rican in New York City, by age 15 he was an influential first-generation subway graffiti artist known as “BOMB-ONE.” His friendship and artistic collaboration with high school schoolmate Jean-Michel Basquiat on SAMO, (a late 70s Avant-garde graffiti tag project) has been noted often in contemporary art history. Díaz later contributed percussion to numerous musical recordings and performances, including Basquiat’s historic 1983 record, “Beat Bop,” (considered to be one of the earliest hip-hop albums...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Other Medium

A Cerebral Assault
By Al Diaz
Located in New York, NY
Al Diaz A Cerebral Assault, 2019 Mixd media on canvas 12 x 10 in Al Diaz is an influential, first generation New York City graffiti artist, who later became a text oriented street a...
Category

2010s Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Ghost Painting
By Al Diaz
Located in New York, NY
Ghost Painting 2021 mixed media on canvas 21 x 30 inches Al Diaz is an influential, first generation New York City graffiti artist, who later became a text oriented street artist wh...
Category

2010s Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Forgotten Names and Places
By Al Diaz
Located in New York, NY
Al Diaz Forgotten Names and Places, 2019 Mixed media on canvas 30 x 40 in Al Diaz is an influential, first generation New York City graffiti artist, who later became a text oriented...
Category

2010s Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Qualified Candidates
By Al Diaz
Located in New York, NY
Qualified Candidates 2020 mixed media on plywood 45 inch diameter Al Diaz is an influential, first generation New York City graffiti artist, who later became a text oriented street ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Al Diaz Art

Materials

Mixed Media

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1974 Jean-Michel Folon 
POL
 ORIGINAL POSTER
1974 Jean-Michel Folon 
POL
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$280 Sale Price
20% Off
H 30.25 in W 22 in D 0.1 in
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Previously Available Items
Alien Cubism #3
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Al Diaz art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Al Diaz art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Al Diaz in mixed media, fabric, linen and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Al Diaz art, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jo Baskerville, David Kramer, and Casey Vogt. Al Diaz art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $450 and tops out at $13,000, while the average work can sell for $3,750.

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