The New York Street Artists of the 1980s Art Scene - Steven Reflects on a conversation with graffiti artist LA II
Steven has always been drawn to the aesthetic and mood of the 1970’s and 1980s street Art, so it is unsurprising that Woodbury House are appointed advisors and distributors of Richard Hambleton. Famous for his graffiti art, contemporary art and public art, Hambleton is probably most well-known for his New York Shadowmen Silhouettes who lurked in and around the streets of 1970s and 1980s New York.
If it wasn’t for Richard Hambleton we wouldn’t have Blek Le Rat or even Banksy who cites him as an influence. He inspired so many and shaped the street art movement of New York and now, the world.
But who inspired Richard Hambleton? His contemporaries were Keith Haring, Jean Michael Basquiat and LA II. They all helped one another in the street art world but LA II also supported him as a friend, when he wasn’t struggling himself, through dark days of the drug addictions that were a back drop to so much of the culture in 1980s New York.
In the same way the art world heralds Jean Michael Basquiat but often forgets Al Diaz, Keith Harrington would not have developed the style or gone on to sell his art if it wasn’t for LA II. LA II taught Harrington so much, from how to top up his marker to helping him sell his first big ticket piece.
These types of relationships forged the way and built the foundations of art collaborations. Starting with many artists who worked with each other, sharing gallery spaces and creating art together. It was often a way of survival if nothing else, a way to make a living from their art. Today this has twisted and transformed and you only have to look at the amount of brand collaborations with artists out there to see how things have changed but also remain the same, just this week Converse have announced a collaboration with Jean-Michael Basquiat featuring his Pez Dispenser. This not only creates monetary value for an artist (or legacy) but also a way of reaching more people via new mediums. What started as a street art piece in New York in 1984 Is now walking around the streets all over the world on a pair of trainers.
When speaking with LA II in his interview, Steven gained a unique insight of what it was like to really live in this moody and emerging street art counter culture of New York. LA II tells stories of dropping out of school to hang out with Andy Wahol and pursue his art, how drug additions were part and parcel of the scene and how a normal day was clubbing by night and tagging on the way home. It’s easy to see why so many collectors are drawn to this world and want to become involved and learn about investment art. LA II remembers the changes happening around him, when business people started seeing there was money to be made and how this changed the way many artist operated. He only wishes that the likes of Haring could see the success they have now. It is reminiscent of the famous Dr Who scene where The Dr takes Van Gogh to his exhibit at Musee d’Orsay, Gogh cries in awe and becomes emotionally overwhelmed at how adored and renowned he and his art has become, something he and many other artists never got to experience when they were alive.
Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aP4hAJkf6mLXnjsgm_VpcHm4LYKoytns/view