Tracy 168

1 artwork

  • Black Book Graffiti Drawing Journal by Stay High 149- Wayne Roberts

    Stay High 149- Wayne Roberts Black Book Graffiti Drawing Journal by Stay High 149- Wayne Roberts

    Black Book Graffiti Original Personal Drawing Journal by Stay High 149- Wayne Roberts Modern Street Pop Tag, Doodles, Drawings, Paintings & Thought Artwork. STAYHIGH149 x  2003 Signed Tagged Original Marker, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Sticker, Mixed Media Drawing Graffiti, Black Book Size 8.5x11. Good, Some Wear And Tear And Some Pages Seem To Be Missing. This one-of-a-kind black book once belonged to the legendary STAYHIGH149, a true icon in graffiti history. It's more than just a sketchbook—it's a cultural artifact worthy of a museum collection. Inside, you’ll find over 130 pages filled with raw, authentic tags and pieces not only by STAYHIGH149 but also by his close collaborator Dead Leg and influential figures like TRACY 168, among others. This Black Book is bursting with visual history. The back cover is also adorned, making this a full-spectrum look into the underground art of an era. Historic Black Book from Graffiti Legend STAYHIGH149 This original drawing journal is a profoundly rare and culturally significant piece directly tied to the late Wayne Roberts, better known as STAYHIGH149. A cornerstone figure in the early development of New York City graffiti, STAYHIGH149 left an indelible mark on the movement with his iconic “smoker” tag and elevated letterforms. The black book featured here is not just a collection of pages—it is a museum-worthy artifact that reveals the soul of 1970s and 1980s graffiti culture through the hands of its pioneers. It is signed and marked throughout, and was actively used in the early 2000s, serving as a visual time capsule of creativity, brotherhood, and raw street energy. Hand-Tagged Pages from Graffiti’s Original School The black book, measuring 8.5 by 11 inches, contains over 130 pages of unfiltered tags, throw-ups, characters, and sketches—each one layered with markers, spray paint, stickers, and mixed media. Some pages are crossed out or worn, showing the passage of time and the frequent use by the artist and his close circle. Inside, the presence of Dead Leg, STAYHIGH149’s trusted collaborator, is heavily featured, along with pieces and dedications from other legends such as TRACY 168. These works are not curated—they are raw, spontaneous, and packed with style, making them some of the most authentic surviving street pop art & graffiti artwork on paper. Some pages are fully saturated with color while others feature quick bursts of lettering and iconic character drawings. Physical Condition and Artistic Integrity This one-of-a-kind black book carries the physical evidence of its use: some pages are missing, many have edge wear, and a few feature ghosting from marker bleed. Yet this only enhances its credibility as an active tool and companion for one of graffiti’s most visionary figures. The outside covers are heavily adorned in ink and paint, with the back featuring phrases like “Voice of the Ghetto”—a message that aligns directly with the legacy of Wayne Roberts. Inside, the mixture of bubble letters, classic tags, and stylized drawings represents decades of urban art tradition transferred from subway cars and city walls onto a personal canvas. Legacy Captured in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork This black book isn’t a reproduction or retrospective. It is a living archive of graffiti history, created by the hands of those who built the culture from the ground up. STAYHIGH149 remains a towering figure in the world of graffiti, and this book reflects the camaraderie, influence, and unrelenting drive that defined an entire era. It is a powerful example of how street pop art & graffiti artwork evolved beyond city streets to become a revered form of contemporary expression. This black book is a rare opportunity to witness the underground art world as it was—personal, unfiltered, and immortal.

    $10,000.00

Tracy 168> Pop Artist Graffiti Street Artworks

Tracy 168 and the Birth of Wildstyle Innovation

Tracy 168, born Michael Tracy in New York City, stands as one of the most foundational figures in the rise of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork. Emerging in the early 1970s as a teenage writer, he helped shape and define the visual vocabulary that would become synonymous with the New York graffiti movement. Known primarily for developing the Wildstyle technique, Tracy 168 brought a level of complexity and dynamism to lettering that was previously unseen. His innovations turned graffiti into a form of abstract calligraphy and artistic rebellion, embedding coded messages, arrows, flames, and kinetic energy within his pieces. These stylistic elements elevated graffiti from simple name-tagging into a multilayered, cryptic visual language that demanded both visual and cultural literacy.

Subway Car Canvases and Street Fame

As a graffiti pioneer, Tracy 168 used New York City subway trains as moving canvases. The MTA became an urban gallery, where his work traveled borough to borough, catching the eyes of fellow writers and everyday commuters. The streets and tunnels of the Bronx and Brooklyn acted as both studio and stage. Tracy was not just painting names; he was composing monumental murals under pressure, often in the dark, with high risk. These pieces became iconic not only for their style but also for their placement and size. His ability to adapt the urban landscape into an immersive, accessible art platform cemented his reputation as a true originator. The subway system became a delivery mechanism for his visual statements, reaching audiences far beyond the confines of traditional art spaces.

Mentorship, Influence, and the TF5 Crew

Tracy 168 was deeply involved in community-building through his crew, The Famous Five (TF5). He mentored numerous younger artists who would go on to be influential figures in both graffiti and contemporary fine art. His role extended beyond individual practice; he was a cultural node, connecting new talent and older generations. Tracy’s mentoring style emphasized originality, style development, and respect for graffiti’s codes. His influence can be traced in the work of legends like Seen, Cope2, and many others who credit him with shaping their foundational understanding of the form. Through TF5, Tracy cultivated a culture of excellence, experimentation, and mutual support that helped formalize graffiti into a legitimate movement.

Street Pop Art and the New York Legacy

Tracy 168’s contribution to Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork remains essential to the understanding of how street culture transitioned into institutional recognition. His work was included in early exhibitions that brought graffiti into galleries, showing that the medium had relevance beyond the street. While his art was deeply embedded in the aesthetics of spray paint and the rhythms of the city, it also carried strong emotional and political undercurrents. Themes of territorial pride, rebellion, creativity under constraint, and community identity were all present in his elaborate compositions. Tracy passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legacy not only of artwork but of an entire movement shaped by his hand. He remains a legend who expanded graffiti’s limits, championed its artists, and transformed the streets into an enduring platform for visual expression.
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