Martha Cooper

People’s Discontent Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY Hand-Pulled Screen Print on Cream Speckletone Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Pop Street Art Artwork. 2021 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 550 Artwork Size 24x18 Silkscreen Print of CHild Spray Painting Back of Bus With Graffiti "I teamed up with my good friend and documentary photographer, Martha Cooper, on a new print release called “People’s Discontent.” Martha Cooper has been photographing creative kids in action on city streets since the mid-1970s. I remixed one of Martha’s iconic photos from her book, Street Play, titled “Hitchhiking a Bus on Houston Street” that she shot in 1978 in the Lower East Side of New York City. There was no advertisement on the back of the bus in her original photo, and since disco was the rage in the late ’70s, I thought it made sense for me to add a disco radio station with the slogan, “Listen To The Sounds of People’s Disco.” I added the “DISCO-ntent” and the spraypaint can in the kid’s hand as if he sprayed that on there. It’s a nod to that era but also to what’s going on now with the unrest around social justice issues. This limited edition print was first released through Urban Nation Museum in Berlin as part of their current show “Martha Cooper: Taking Pictures” curated by Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington of Brooklyn Street Art." -Shepard Fairey People’s Discontent Silkscreen Print is a powerful example of the intersection between pop art, street art, and graffiti art. Shepard Fairey, better known by his moniker 'OBEY,' collaborated with renowned documentary photographer Martha Cooper to create this piece, drawing inspiration from the vibrant street culture that emerged in New York City in the 1970s. This print showcases Fairey's creative remix of an iconic photo by Cooper, titled “Hitchhiking a Bus on Houston Street.” The print is an intricate hand-pulled silkscreen creation on cream Speckletone Fine Art paper. Fairey added his own touch to the original photograph by inserting a disco radio station advertisement and a spray paint can in the child's hand, evoking the rebellious spirit of graffiti art. The juxtaposition of the disco radio station and the defiant "DISCO-ntent" slogan signify the sociopolitical unrest of the period, with a particular nod to the burgeoning disco movement. Fairey, while staying true to his street art roots, successfully adds a layer of pop art through the use of vibrant, mass-culture imagery, capturing a transformative period in urban history. By contextualizing this piece within the larger narrative of social justice issues, Fairey's artwork exemplifies the power of pop and street art to comment on, challenge, and shape societal norms. This limited edition print of 550 is a part of Urban Nation Museum's exhibition “Martha Cooper: Taking Pictures," curated by Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington of Brooklyn Street Art. People’s Discontent Silkscreen Print represents a fusion of artistic styles, functioning as both a snapshot of a moment in time and a commentary on social issues, making it a unique and coveted piece among collectors and enthusiasts.

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Scale Up Archival Print Photo by Vhils- Alexandre Farto x Martha Cooper x 1UP Crew- One United Power x Nika Kramer x MOG Museum of Graffiti Limited Edition on Fine Art Paper Pop Graffiti Street Artist Modern Artwork. 2023 Signed by Vhils- Alexandre Farto & Numbered Print Limited Edition of 40 Artwork Size 19.75x24 Archival Pigment Stylized Blown Up Polaroid Picture Taken by Martha Cooper x Nika Kramer Fine Art Published by 1UP Crew x MOG Museum of Graffiti. Intersecting Visions: Vhils and the Fabric of Street Art "Scale Up," an archival print brought to life by the creative confluence of Vhils (Alexandre Farto), Martha Cooper, the 1UP Crew, and Nika Kramer, encapsulates a collaborative spirit that is at the heart of street pop art and graffiti artwork. This limited edition piece, signed by Vhils and numbered out of 40, is a testament to urban art's intricate layers and profound storytelling. Sized at 19.75x24 inches, the work is a fusion of Farto's unique subtractive artistry and the documentary acumen of Cooper and Kramer, presented by the 1UP Crew and the MOG Museum of Graffiti. Each artist's contribution to "Scale Up" forms a distinct thread in the rich tapestry of the print. Vhils' excavation technique is evident, stripping layers to reveal an underlying narrative. Meanwhile, Martha Cooper and Nika Kramer bring their iconic photographic perspectives, immortalizing the essence of the street in a single frame. The 1UP Crew, synonymous with unity and power in street art, bridges these visions, while the MOG offers a platform for their convergence, cementing the work's place in modern art discourse. Alexandre Farto's Artistic Alchemy Alexandre Farto, known as Vhils, has revolutionized the street art scene with his chiseled portraits that delve into the substrata of urban environments. His involvement in "Scale Up" presents a poignant portrayal of the human condition amidst the chaos of city life. Farto's art is a dialogue between creation and destruction, where removing material is as significant as the image revealed. His technique is a metaphor for the human experience—each layer stripped away uncovers stories etched into the walls by time and history. Vhils' approach to street art extends beyond mere aesthetics. It interrogates themes of identity, memory, and the relentless pace of urban development. By signing "Scale Up," Farto imbues the work with his ethos, marrying the transient nature of street art with the permanence of fine art. The piece is a visual feast and a philosophical inquiry into the spaces we occupy and the marks we leave behind. The Collective Pulse of "Scale Up" "Scale Up" is a collaborative heartbeat of the street art community, echoing the sentiments of artists who view the city as canvas and muse. The inclusion of Martha Cooper and Nika Kramer in this project bridges generations, uniting the trailblazing spirit of Cooper's seminal street art photography with Kramer's contemporary cultural lens. Their collective eye frames the raw beauty of street art, capturing its fleeting magic in a lasting medium. The 1UP Crew, through its publication of "Scale Up," reinforces its commitment to collective action in art creation. The Crew's ethos is palpable in print, representing a more extensive, unified narrative of resistance, resilience, and artistic freedom. Supported by the MOG Museum of Graffiti, the print becomes a piece of history. This limited-edition narrative speaks to the enduring power of collaboration in the street art world. In the art community, "Scale Up" is recognized as a convergence of titans, a harmonious blend of individual talents and visions that together tell a story more remarkable than the sum of its parts. As street pop art and graffiti artwork continue to shape the cultural landscape, the contributions of Vhils, Martha Cooper, Nika Kramer, and the 1UP Crew will be celebrated for their ability to capture the zeitgeist of urban art and its unyielding drive to challenge, redefine, and inspire.

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Mare139 Silver Chrome Limited Edition Rare Spray Paint Can Artwork Crossover by famous graffiti paint maker Montana MTN x Mare139 Carlos Rodriguez. 2012 Limited Edition of 300 Montana MTN x Mare139 Carlos Rodriguez Spray Paint Can Loose, No Box. 'Street Play 'by Martha Cooper x Mare139 Carlos Rodriguez. Mare139: The Alchemist of Street Art and Sculpture Carlos Rodriguez, better known in the art world as Mare139, is a pivotal figure in the annals of street art. His journey from the gritty New York subway scene to the refined corridors of art galleries encapsulates the evolution of graffiti as a legitimate art form. The "Mare139 Silver Chrome Limited Edition" spray paint can, a collaboration with Montana MTN released in 2012, is a tangible homage to his storied career. This rare collectible, limited to 300 pieces and presented without a box, is an artifact that encapsulates the essence of Mare139's contribution to the graffiti movement. Mare139's artistry extends beyond the spray can. He is renowned for his metal sculptures, which carry the fluid dynamism of his street art into the solidity of three-dimensional forms. His work "Street Play" by Martha Cooper and his prominent role in the seminal documentary "Style Wars" are pivotal moments that have immortalized his name in the lexicon of street art history. His influence is a testament to the power of graffiti in shaping urban culture and its ability to forge unforgettable memories in the minds of its audience. The Legacy of Mare139 in Graffiti Culture Mare139's legacy in graffiti is multifaceted. As a pioneer of the early graffiti movement in New York, he was instrumental in propelling the art form from subway tunnels to the public eye. His signature style—a blend of sharp lines and flowing curves—has become a blueprint for aspiring graffiti artists worldwide. The "Mare139 Silver Chrome" can symbolize this legacy, as a marker of his street credibility and his role in elevating graffiti art. The can itself, with its sleek silver chrome finish, is a nod to the raw materials of the graffiti artist's craft. It is a vessel of paint and a canvas depicting Mare139 in the act of creation, a meta-commentary on the process and the artist. This object, stripped of any traditional presentation, is a bold statement of Mare139's impact on the art world—unboxed, unfiltered, and unapologetically authentic. The Artistic Evolution of Carlos Rodriguez 'Mare139' Carlos Rodriguez's evolution as Mare139 from a street artist to a respected figure in contemporary art is a transformation narrative. His sculptures, which often incorporate elements of graffiti's visual language, are a testament to his ability to traverse artistic mediums while retaining the essence of his street roots. Mare139's work has enriched the visual landscape and contributed to the critical discourse on the value and impact of street art. The release of the "Mare139 Silver Chrome" spray paint can by Montana MTN celebrates the artist's journey. Each limited edition can is a piece of that history, a physical manifestation of Mare139's enduring influence on street pop art and graffiti artwork. As Mare139 continues to create, his contributions connect the past, present, and future of graffiti, reminding us of the art form's power to innovate, inspire, and incite change. In the art community, Mare139's contributions stand as a testament to the transformative power of art and its ability to reshape perceptions and break new ground. His work continues to inspire artists and enthusiasts, ensuring that the vibrant, rebellious voice of the streets remains a vital part of the conversation in the world of art. As street pop art and graffiti artwork continue to evolve, the influence of artists like Mare139 will be revered, remembered, and revisited by those who understand the profound impact these movements have had on our collective cultural heritage.

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