AVONE Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1979 -

Born in 1979, Anthony Vasquez grew up in Crown Heights and Fort Greene in Brooklyn in difficult circumstances and as a half-orphan. During his childhood, Vasquez was faced with the social imbalance of his hometown. Despite the fact that gang crimes, drug dealing and violence were part of everyday life for the artist, he spent most of his early years exploring the city freely, taking the subway to every borough.

AVone began to draw at a young age, his first subjects were his friends, toys and cartoons. Getting older, he began to express his creativity through vandalism, tagging facades and walls.

In his 20s, the artist began screen printing and collaging on canvases, often highlighting his tag – AVone.

AVone’s work is deeply influenced by the city of New York, as well as by the work of trendsetting artists including abstract expressionist Franz Kline and Land-Art pioneer Andy Goldsworthy, whose pieces has inspired the Fragmenting of his writing and self-developed textural surfaces.
He was also enthusiastic about the work of one of the most prominent artists in history Vincent van Gogh, and one of a leading figure of pop art movement Andy Warhol. In his Art Works series, AVone also extracted elements from comics and Hip-Hop culture.

In the beginning of 21st century AVone tags could be seen everywhere throughout New York. This not only furthered his name but also called the anti-graffiti forces of NYC. Considered by some to be number one of the most wanted graffiti writers of New York, AVone was arrested several times. On February 23, 2007 he faced a long prison sentence.

He was rescued by the American Digital-Art activist and conceptual artist Evan Roth who liked his work. Evan paid the bail and took AVone under his patronage.

A collaborative work by AVone and Roth was showed at the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Not long after, a colossal version of AVone’s tag was projected by Roth on the Brooklyn Bridge.


AVone’s pieces are based around his life, as he documents his surroundings, interests and feelings. Described as the quintessential New York artist, AVone’s art expresses both the growth and decay of the modern urban environment.

He is one of the most established American contemporary pop-artists known for his signature eye-catching photorealistic style.
AVone’s patinated, ripped and stained multi-layer artworks are stenciled or screen-printed with iconic New York City landmarks like The Empire State, the Word Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge.

In his practice Avone uses a combination of techniques such as silkscreen, paint, markers, spray cans, collaging and oxidation to complete his astonishing works made on canvas, wood, copper, acryl, varnish, metal, vinyl, or grime.

His repetitive use of images compose a distinctive and gritty vision of urban decay.