Futura Abstract Prints

Dondi White, Futura, Lee Quinones, Crash, Daze, Lady Pink & Zephyr: Celebrating 15 Years Above Ground (1995): This rare, complete portfolio of 7 hand-signed limited edition screen-prints, was published on the occasion of the 1995 exhibition, Celebrating 15 Years Above Ground: a historic event exploring the evolution of 1980’s New York graffiti legends: Crash, Daze, Dondi, Futura, Lee Quinones, Lady Pink, and Zephyr. The seldom seen complete set of 7 works accompanied by both original portfolio covers, makes for a standout addition to any 1980’s New York graffiti collection. Medium: 7 individual screen-prints in colors on fine, deckle-edged Stonehenge paper; plus a screen-printed portfolio cover on heavy matte paper. 1995. Each work individually measures: 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x 27.9 cm). Each hand-signed & numbered in pencil by the respective artists from an edition of 100 (5 works signed & numbered frontside; with Futura & Lady Pink signed & numbered on the reverse). Condition: Prints: Some very minor signs of handling; rubbing on the right lower edge of Zephyr; in otherwise very good overall vintage condition as pictured. Superb overall print quality & color separation. Fine archival paper. Portfolio casing (last image) contains some minor signs of aging & handling. Collections: The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Dondi White: Dondi was an American graffiti artist best known for his dynamic lettering and stick figures. His work, whether painted on canvas or on walls, is characterized by a dynamic energy and explosive use of color. Dondi became associated with a group of legendary artists working in the East Village, including Futura, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. His canvas works reiterated the lettering, symbolic icons, and stick figures that were his signature marks on the streets, while his later work from the 1990s included collages that juxtaposed pencil drawings with blueprints of the subway system—which had previously served as his canvas. Futura: Futura 2000 is a contemporary American graffiti artist. Over the course of his career, he transitioned from making New York-based subway graffiti in the early 1970s, to exhibiting at Fun Gallery in the 1980s alongside major artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Kenny Scharf. He went on to collaborate with the punk band The Clash, designing their album art and performing live graffiti during their concerts. Today, McGurr’s work can be found in the collections of the Museo de Arte Moderna di Bologna, the Musée de Vire in France, and the Museum of the City of New York. Lee Quinones: Lee Quinones is an American-Puerto Rican artist known for the graffiti he made on New York subway cars during the 1970s and 1980s. Quinones addressed political and cultural issues through his graffiti, with quotes such as “Earth is Hell...

Screen print in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered by Futura. From the edition of 80. Custom framed as pictured. Frame size approx 40 x 28 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Futura 2000 is a contemporary American graffiti artist. Over the course of his career, he transitioned from making New York-based subway graffiti in the early 1970s, to exhibiting at Fun Gallery in the 1980s alongside major artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Kenny Scharf. McGurr’s major contribution to graffiti art was his use of abstraction, adopting a style of painting characterized by its blending of text and imagery. Born Leonard McGurr on November 17, 1955 in New York, NY, he went on to collaborate with the punk...