Artwork Description
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.
