Famous Graffiti Artists

Keith Haring

Bridging the gap between the art world and the street, Keith Haring rose to prominence in the early 1980s with his graffiti drawings made in the subways and on the sidewalks of New York City. Combining the appeal of cartoons with the raw energy of Art Brut artists like Jean DuBuffet, Haring developed a distinct pop-graffiti aesthetic centered on fluid, bold outlines against a dense, rhythmic overspread of imagery like that of babies, barking dogs, flying saucers, hearts, and Mickey Mouse. In his subway drawings and murals, Haring explored themes of exploitation, subjugation, drug abuse, and rising fears of nuclear holocaust, which became increasingly apocalyptic after his AIDS diagnosis. Alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and Jenny Holzer, Haring is regarded as a leading figure in New York East Village Art scene in the 1970s and '80s.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat took the New York City art world by storm in the early 1980s and gained international recognition by creating powerful and expressive works that confronted issues of racism, identity and social tension. Although his career was cut short by his untimely death at age 27, his groundbreaking drawings and paintings continue to challenge perceptions, provoke vital dialogues and empower us to think critically about the world around us. Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time marks the first major retrospective of the artist's work in Canada and will feature close to 85 large-scale paintings and drawings from private collections and public museums across Europe and North America.

John Fekner

John Fekner is known for his street art and the more than 300 conceptual works he has created, primarily in New York City. Fekner’s art typically consists of words or symbols spray painted on walls, buildings and other structures that highlight social or environmental issues. By labeling old billboards or crumbling structures, Fekner is calling attention to problems and provoking action from both citizens and city officials. His stenciled message, “Wheels Over Indian Trails,” (shown here) was painted on the Pulaski Bridge Queens Midtown Tunnel in 1979. It remained there for 11 years until Earth Day 1990, when Fekner painted over it.

Darco

Discover this unique artistic collaboration between the famous graffiti artist Darco and our worldwide body painting champion Noemie Contessi from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy Paris. Watch Darco achieve his master piece and the body painted model become part of the global art piece. Absolutely amazing!

Sanki King

Abdullah Ahmed Khan aka Sanki King, is a 22-year-old self made graffiti artist in Pakistan. A member of an old-school American graffiti crew in New York, Beyond Mankind Krew (BMK), some would go as far as saying that Sanki is the pioneer of graffiti art in the country. He started his journey as a graffiti artist in 2006, around the same time that he became serious about hip-hop. Having mastered multiple elements of hip-hop such as Parkour and B-boying, Sanki has also recently claimed the title of the only “super hip hopper” of Pakistan.