KLASS RTW / JA - Fuck The Police - Colab Painting

KLASS RTW /JA Collaborative painting, titled "Fuck The Police" Spray paint, and Acrylic on Canvas. Measures 44" x 31". Ships un-stretched

Klass' graffiti was born of East Harlem "the Gates of the Ghetto" as the main partner of Shaker 179 RTW TFA TDS.

Together, they bombed streets, highways and subways throughout the city starting in the early 80's before retiring briefly in 1988. 1990 was a comeback year for him and a new generation of TDS artists who were painting large scale illegal walls mostly in Harlem. A neighborhood so rich in graffiti history. He has painted with the best of the best of NYC writers like Dr. Revolt, Zephyr, Quik, Shaker, Part 1, A-One, Toxic, Ezo, Smith, Tracy 168 to name a few. He was partly responsible for a historic comeback of "Zephyr" in the early 90's when they painted many walls, highways, and freight trains pretty hard with Lady Pink and Smith, Omni 156, etc... Klass was also a friend of the late great Rammelizee since the early 80's and holds down 2 letters in the alphabet of the iconoclastic master... P1 and F1...

Klass went on to get a scholarship to Parsons School of Design, The Aegean School of Art (Greece), and the Bank St. School of Education. He's taught art at Washington Irving HS in NYC and for Putney Student Travel in Barcelona and Madrid (Spain), The Aegean School of Art (Greece) and has done numerous murals and workshops throughout Europe and South America.

He's also a frequent lecturer at Parsons School of Design among other universities.

He's had one man shows in NYC (Kanvas Gallery), Chelsea, and Los Angeles (Atmosphere Gallery). The Englewood Public in NJ. He's been included in many group shows in America, South America, France, Holland, Greece, and is in many prestigious collections including the Gran Palais (le tag) collection, the government of Greece, the center for Cuban Studies and others... Today Klass travels as much as possible but lives and works in NYC.

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About the Artist

KR.ONE

Louie aka KR.ONE, Gasparro is a self taught natural artist. His inspirations and earliest influences range from Saturday morning cartoons, 1960’s and 70’s underground comics, rock album cover and poster art and of course the rolling art of NYC Subway Graffiti.
Specific influences include: Roger Dean, Rodney Matthews, Vaughn Bode, Bernie Wrightson, Alex Nino, Josh Kirby, Syd Mead, Frank Frazzetta, Dan Merriam, DON 1, TRACY 168, ROTO, SON1, PRO1, and KEL139.

Born in Manhattan, raised in Astoria Queens; Louie totally absorbed the early to mid 70’s graffiti metamorphosis and in 1977 took the name KROME later changing it to KR.ONE. New York City’s MTA subway RR, M, L, J, A, B, 2 and 5 lines became the surface choice of this emerging artist’s creative expression.

In 1982, Louie put his late night subway excursions on pause to begin his musical career playing drums and guitars. He has written music and drummed for such legendary NYC bands, MURPHY’s LAW, LORDZ OFBROOKLYN, BLITZSPEER, SUPERVILLAIN and current hard rock / heavy metal project RESURRECTION SORROW, which are about to release their first independent cd in Aug.09.

All the while creating original artwork for other up and coming acts musical acts.

Thirty years and many miles later, this creative fire still burns bright as Louie continues his graphic, illustrative and graffiti art paintings with his own design company KOLORSTORM GRAFFICS, creating fine art, cd/dvd packaging, mural art, logo design, and clothing.
Louie has taken part in several successful solo and group showings along with his artwork being showcased in several books and magazine publications.