This is when martha met dondi, the first one who allowed her to accompany him. In 1984, photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant captured the imagination of a generation with subway art, a groundbreaking book documenting the work of graffiti writers who illegally painted subway cars in new york city. Hannah stamler praises martha cooper s ability to photograph graffiti art with a precise and informed eye, while also communicating the youthfullness and creativity it brings to everyday life. Vito acconci acconci studio, wallslide, 2002 at yankee stadium. Apr 16, 2009 during the 1970s and 80s, photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant captured the burgeoning new york city graffiti movement.
She is perhaps best known for documenting the new york graffiti scene of the 1970s and 80s. Martha coopers photographs helped catapult hip hop around the globe. During the 1970s and 80s photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant captured the environment and the imagination of a generation by documenting the burgeoning. Jan, 2016 subway art, first released in 1984, is the work of martha cooper and henry chalfant, two photographers who moved to new york in the 1970s. The book that spread new yorks subway graffiti around the.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Led by a licensed nyc guide this tour travels through subway stations to see municipally commissioned artworks. Subway art, first released in 1984, is the work of martha cooper and henry chalfant, two photographers who moved to new york in the 1970s. Martha cooper is featured on the podcast, new york said. Photographer martha cooper has always lived life on her own term. Martha cooper and henry chalfants pioneering photographs of. In the episode she talks about the peace corps, traveling across asia, publishing books, and documenting graffiti culture and street art. Together with a fellow graffiti photographer henry chalfant, cooper published a book on nyc street art, containing a plethora of photographs they took in the 70s and the 80s. Jan 15, 2016 subway art by henry chalfant and martha cooper. Steven kasher gallery specializes in fine art photography, contemporary and vintage. A seminal book on the ephemeral art that is graffiti especially on nyc subway system where it originated. Martha cooper and henry chalfants subway art is the bible of.
Martha cooper and henry chalfants pioneering photographs. Under the imprint steidlkasher we have published books on mike disfarmer. Martha cooper and henry chalfants subway art is the bible. Subway art, originally published in 1984, introduced new york citys graffiti to the world. Feb 25, 2015 photographer martha cooper made a name for herself photographing the graffiti, subway and street scenes of the 70s and 80s for the new york post. In the 1980s she put she is perhaps best known for documenting the new york graffiti scene of the 1970s and 80s. The show, open february 10march 2, features over 40 images from her series, subway art, hip hop files, and tokyo tattoo.
Subway art by martha cooper and henry chalfant in 1984, martha cooper and henry chalfant, the two of the best street art photographers, collaborated on one of the most influential and popular graffiti books, which documented the very beginnings of nyc underground graffiti culture. Sep 14, 2019 us photographer martha cooper has been a cult figure since the 1984 publication of graffiti and street art bible subway art a 96page photobook created in collaboration with fellow. May 15, 2017 christopher sawyer breaking, upper west side, nyc, 1983. His photographs, along with the 1983 film he copro duced with tony silver, style wars, and the essential text subway art, a 1984 book coauthored with martha cooper, have immortalized this ephemeral art form and helped launch. Known by many as the bible of graffiti, subway art quickly acquired the dubious accolade of becoming one of the most stolen books in the. Martha cooper was a staff photographer at the ny times. Cooper is coauthor of a bestselling photo book published in 2009 entitled subway art during the 1970s. After many rejections, and later poor sales when it finally did get published, writes christopher lee inoa at curbed, cooper then thought. Jun 03, 2017 the village voice on martha cooper may 9, 2017. Apr 20, 2017 martha cooper is a photojournalist based in new york city and baltimore, who is known for her images of graffiti artists and urban culture. Graffiti and street art, a lifelong photo quest martha. Chalfant, a sculptor, noticed the graffiti on the trains in new york and. Apr 22, 2009 chronicle books has released subway art. Ever since the early 70s, shes been capturing the essence of street culture and art in nyc, which was and still is the very center and melting pot of various lifestyles.
Woman with white pants on 180th street platform, bronx, nyc, 1980. In 2012, we ventured through the entire subway system in new york city, looking for the best subway art. Subway art during the 1970s and 80s, photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant captured the environment and the imagination of a generation by documenting the. Her introduction to the graffiti subculture was on a walk from home after work where she. She is best known for documenting the new york city graffiti scene of the 1970s and 1980s. Photographer martha cooper was taking snapshots in the bronx for the new york post one day.
She is best known for documenting the new york city graffiti scene of the 1970s and 1980s in 1984, cooper and henry chalfant published their photographs of new york city graffiti in the book subway art, which has been called the. Graffiti photographer martha coopers quest to document. Within a walk into street art, a chapter devoted to subway art finds its place. Subway art insists on the incredible freedom that one can experience facing the openair museum that is. Cooper, working on a photo project about kids playing on. Jan 14, 2016 subway art celebrates martha cooper and henry chalfants iconic photos.
Martha cooper is an american photojournalist born in the 1940s in baltimore, maryland. In the 1970s, as the boroughs of new york city burned, martha was one of the first photographers to capture vivid images of graffiti appearing on the citys subway network. After graduating high school at 16 and grinnell college at 19, the baltimorenative decided to see the world. Martha cooper, an iconic american street photographer, lives the life that many would envy. Subway art by martha cooper and henry chalfant in 1984, martha cooper and henry chalfant, the two of the best street art photographers, collaborated on one of the most influential and popular graffiti books, which documented the. Dondi, children of the grave again, by martha cooper. Jan 01, 1984 a seminal book on the ephemeral art that is graffiti especially on nyc subway system where it originated. Nyc subway art tour ride the subway with bronxborn guide darryl reilly to discover the riches of art underground. Henry chalfant is known as the most significant documentarian of new york city subway art of the late 1970s and 1980s. Many publishers rejected the book but eventually cooper and chalfant made a deal and the photo book called subway art was published in 1984. At that time, they had no idea how much the urban art scene would flourish in the years to come.
Her early photos of nyc subway graffiti are credited by todays street artists as having been instrumental in. Photographer martha cooper made a name for herself photographing the graffiti, subway and street scenes of the 70s and 80s for the new york post. Subway art paperback january 1, 1984 by martha cooper author. Thames and hudson subway art, first published in 1984 and reissued now in. When huck met martha in 2007, she showed us the kids that first took her underground. Subway art by martha cooper, henry chalfant, paperback. Illustration from subway art by henry chalfant and martha cooper. The gallery works with important photographers and major photographic archives such as the national geographic society, the new york times, the andy warhol foundation and magnum.
It has been an influential tool for many writers back then and now. Children of the grave part one in 2020 new york graffiti. But when photographers henry chalfant and martha cooper first published. The book is made even more romantic due to the way the writers met in documenting the graffiti scene. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Subway art by henry chalfant and martha cooper 2016. Dec 21, 2019 but when photographers henry chalfant and martha cooper first published subway art, their seminal photojournalistic document of the emerging art form, in 1984, the book attracted little notice. Adam mansbach is the author of more than a dozen books, including the novel rage is. Dec 14, 2016 martha cooper is a documentary photographer who has shot urban art since 1978. Nyc subway, subway art, coney island, world trade center, martha cooper, baz luhrmann, music flyer, national geographic society, street art photography what others are saying arte do hip hop hip hop art street dance galactik football baile hip hop jamel shabazz urban dance arte dope breakdance. Legendary photojournalist martha cooper started documenting the new york graffiti scene in the 70s, when it was still considered an underground phenomenon. Thanks to henry chalfants photographs, the old r38 new york trains are gifted a second life under the paint of graffiti pioneers such as futura 2000, blade, seen, crash or lee. A touching portrait of martha cooper, a legendary chronicler. Her first book subway art with henry chalfant, has been reprinted multiple times and is affectionately. Martha cooper, photographer at age 75, martha cooper is now revered as an icon of the street art world. Originally published in 1984, the book has been described as a landmark photographic history. Us photographer martha cooper has been a cult figure since the 1984 publication of graffiti and street art bible subway art a 96page photobook created in.
Thames and hudson subway art, first published in 1984 and reissued now in a larger, lusher edition, is the bible of the new york. Martha cooper is a photojournalist based in new york city and baltimore, who is known for her images of graffiti artists and urban culture. In the decades since, cooper s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide including museum of the city of new york. In 1980, she retired as a photographer for the new york post to devote herself entirely to photographing the emerging hip hop and graffiti scene in new york, especially in the bronx.
Martha cooper and henry chalfant found their niche as graffiti photographers by accident. Martha coopers photographs of new york graffiti in the seventies and eighties helped catapult hip hop around the globe. Buy a cheap copy of subway art book by henry chalfant. She worked as a staff photographer for the new york post during the 1970s. Cooper was a staff photographer for the daily news in new york when she met a young man creating some. Subway art is a collaborative book by martha cooper and henry chalfant, which documents the early history of new york city s graffiti movement. Lauded photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant made a name for themselves documenting new york citys. Subway art by martha cooper and henry chalfant widewalls. In 1984, martha cooper and henry chalfant, the two of the best street art photographers, collaborated on one of the most influential and popular graffiti books, which documented the very beginnings of nyc underground graffiti culture. Martha cooper biography, exhibition, video, picture, works. Christopher sawyer breaking, upper west side, nyc, 1983. Jan 14, 2016 martha cooper and henry chalfant found their niche as graffiti photographers by accident. The book that spread new yorks subway graffiti around the world. The book is made even more romantic due to the way.
She was introduced in the late 70s to dondi, one of the most significant graffiti artists of the movement and the king of one of new yorks graffiti gangs, the cia in which kids would write together, rivalling other. In new introductions, authors martha cooper and henry chalfant recall how they gained entry into the new york city graffiti community in the 1970s and 1980s. Her work will be exhibited at new york city s steven. New afterwords continue the story, tracing the decline of the subway and graffiti scene in the late 1980s to its unexpected rebirth as a global art movement. It covers different styles the motivation of the writers in this interesting grassroots subculture. Martha coopershenry chalfants book subway art is well formatted and excellently photographed.
Martha cooper is a documentary photographer who has shot urban art since 1978. However,having visited henrys studio,i must admit that the whole car photographs in this book barely touch the tip of the iceberg. From an early age she accompanied her father on outings with the baltimore camera club. During the 1970s and 80s, photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant captured the burgeoning new york city graffiti movement. Subway art is a collaborative book by martha cooper and henry chalfant, which documents the early history of new york citys graffiti movement. This threehour escapade stops at keith godards whimsical memories of 23rd street, a collection of mosaics depicting colorful chapeaus worn by celebrities who frequented the area between the 1880s and 1920s, including harry houdinis. Lauded photographers martha cooper and henry chalfant made a name for themselves documenting new york citys graffiti culture in the.
See more ideas about nyc subway, nyc and new york subway. Top 10 subway art installations in nyc untapped new york. Cooper started small, shooting her closest neighborhoods, but her immeasurable passion for street. Martha cooper is a manhattanbased documentary photographer. May 01, 2019 subway art by martha cooper and henry chalfant 1984 published by holt, rinehart and winston photo by martha cooper, courtesy emma griffiths pr. She managed to gain acceptance in the community and met the greatest artists. Subway art by martha cooper and henry chalfant 1984 published by holt, rinehart and winston photo by martha cooper, courtesy emma griffiths pr. The 2009 edition of the book is now available in a new, slightly reduced format. Cooper is coauthor of a bestselling photo book published in 2009 entitled subway art. This shot, one of her more famous captures, features two surly nypd officers riding a graffiti filled subway. The origins of hip hops graffiti scene in the crumbling, decaying boroughs of nyc in the 1970s have by now become the stuff of legend, subject of countless documentaries, fictionalized series, academic studies, and popular books. Subway art celebrates martha cooper and henry chalfants iconic photos.
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