In the early 80s, New York City graffiti was more than paint on walls or subway cars. It was a lifestyle. Young people from the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Harlem poured their creativity onto the trains, turning each ride into a moving art gallery. For some it was rebellion. For others it was identity.
Graffiti writers lived by a code. Crews formed close communities, meeting late at night in train yards or tunnels with spray cans in hand. It was dangerous, with guard dogs, police, and rival artists waiting around every corner, but it gave kids who felt invisible a way to be seen. Their tags became their calling cards, spreading across the city as their reputation grew.
The subway itself became part of the culture. Morning commuters might step onto a car completely covered in bright lettering, cartoon characters, and wild color schemes. To some it looked like destruction. To others it was proof that the city belonged to the youth as much as it did to authority.
This culture was tied into the larger 80s street experience. Breakdancing on cardboard in the parks, boomboxes blasting hip hop, and bold street fashion all flowed together with graffiti. It was risky, loud, and alive.
I used to have a photo of me in a NY subway that was full of graffiti. I’m going to look for it and share it on here. Personally I always appreciated graffiti especially when I was younger.
Graffiti writers lived by a code. Crews formed close communities, meeting late at night in train yards or tunnels with spray cans in hand. It was dangerous, with guard dogs, police, and rival artists waiting around every corner, but it gave kids who felt invisible a way to be seen. Their tags became their calling cards, spreading across the city as their reputation grew.
The subway itself became part of the culture. Morning commuters might step onto a car completely covered in bright lettering, cartoon characters, and wild color schemes. To some it looked like destruction. To others it was proof that the city belonged to the youth as much as it did to authority.
This culture was tied into the larger 80s street experience. Breakdancing on cardboard in the parks, boomboxes blasting hip hop, and bold street fashion all flowed together with graffiti. It was risky, loud, and alive.
I used to have a photo of me in a NY subway that was full of graffiti. I’m going to look for it and share it on here. Personally I always appreciated graffiti especially when I was younger.
