FUTURA - "Doze Green" Print

Futura " Titled "Doze Green" a rare archival pigment print by Futura. The image was taken by Martha Cooper and Futura use computer manipulation and created this image for a show curated by Martha. From an edition of only 8, we have 2 prints. #6 and #7. Measures 20" x 16".

Signed and numbered in ink by Futura , lower right.

Gordon Wayne Roberts created the tag Stay High 149, combined it with a smoking, halo-adorned stick man he borrowed from The Saint television show and changed the face of graffiti. It's hard to imagine a trip through the subway system in early 70's without seeing his name a dozen times. Changing to his secondary alias, voice of the ghetto, around 1974 , ,he introduced the world to two and three toned markers that spewed rainbows of psychedelic cool. After a 25 year disappearance , a time during which many assumed him dead, he reappeared at a graff show in 2000 and soon launched a comeback that gave a new generation a chance to know and love his work. His tags had the rarest combination of style and meaning I've ever witnessed . High Maintenance is about paying back one of the most inspirational , yet humble cats to ever wield a marker. His spirit and legacy has touched every era of a culture that's blown up world wide. The artists who so generously donated their work for this benefit are giving their collective thanks to a man who transcended graffiti culture and in time be remembered as an American Folk Hero. All net proceeds from this sale will go to Stayhigh's Family.

Leonard Hilton McGurr has always been ahead of the times. In 1970, inspired by the typeface Futura and the epic science fiction film “2001 A Space Odyssey,” the fifteen-year-old New Yorker adopted the tag FUTURA 2000. He had fallen in love with the ultra-creative street art of PHASE II and other graffiti progenitors like AMRL, FLINT 707, and STAY HIGH 149, and was determined to become part of the scene. McGurr toed the line in the U.S. Navy from 1974-78, but when he returned to civilian life he started painting entire subway trains, always preferring solo missions. His unique work earned him space in a 1980 exhibition at Fashion Moda, and in New Museum and Mudd Club shows the next year. By 1982, “Fut” was featured in solo exhibitions at Tony Shafrazi and The Fun Gallery, and was tapped to design album covers and stage sets for The Clash. It’s been a long time since Futura painted subways, but he remains true to his aesthetic, continuing to create inventive and visually-stunning art on everything from broken windows and burnt exhibition invitations to clothing, toys, footwear and his website, where he has posted new art every single day for years. Futura’s Kandinsky-esque abstractions feel as though he takes a chain saw to the solar system and cuts, carves, and colors his very own cosmos. Whatever Lenny chooses to do in the future, one thing is certain ― people will be following.

About the Artist

Futura

Futura work is increasing more difficult to find as his star continues to rise.

Born in 1955 in New York, Leonard Hilton McGurr, otherwise known as Futura 2000 is an internationally acclaimed graffiti artist. Futura started tagging as a youth in the early 1970s, during this time he worked alongside and was heavily influenced by respected subway artist ALI. Futura’s artistic style is characterized by his abstract approach to street art. During the 1980s, graffiti art predominantly focused on lettering, Futura’s work was less literal. The abstract style of street art pioneered by Futura 2000 has been highly influential and has become increasingly popular as a result. In 1981 Futura toured with band ‘The Clash’, during this time he began creating graffiti works ‘legally’ as a live on-stage painter for the group. His involvement with ‘The Clash’ led to the creation of some of his most prolific work as both a designer and illustrator of record sleeves. Futura has also worked in conjunction with British DJ James Lavelle in order to create imagery that has largely defined the DJs increasingly successful ‘UNKLE’ project. Recently, Futura has teamed up with a variety of large name brands including, Nike, North Face, Medicom Toy and Levi’s, in order to produce collectible toys, sneakers and a diverse range of creative media. Futura also works and designs for his Japan based clothing label ‘Futura Laboratories’. He has exhibited at venues the world over including ICA (London, UK), Solaria (Fukaoka, JP), TBM Experiment (Rome, IT), and Gallery du Jour (Paris, FR), among various others.