Lot 249: Zephyr (Andrew Witten) Zephyr

Zephyr 1984

spray paint and acrylic on canvas

137.3 by 214 cm.
54 by 84 1/4 in.

This work was executed in 1984.

Provenance
Fun Gallery, New York
Charles Cowles Gallery, New York
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

Exhibited
New York, Fun Gallery, Zephyr: Reptiles and New Mechanized High-Tec Graffiti Wild Styles, 1984
New York, Rempire Gallery, Legacy, 1992
New York, New Museum of Contemporary Art, East Village USA, 2004-2005

Andy Witten, better known in graffiti circles as Zephyr, first emerged in 1975 as one of the pioneers of the New York scene. His early efforts largely revolved around tagging subway trains, at a time when the concept of graffiti as fine art was still unthinkable. "We felt we understood the trains more than the Transit Authority" he states. "Teenagers were running the system. We decided when, where, how much we wrote. Graffiti showed that the Transit Authority was not in control" (New York Times, March 1, 2001). Despite a large street following, his instantly recognisable tags traversing New York's five boroughs, Zephyr like many of his peers sought the recognition accorded other artists. In 1980, in a project organised with Futura and funded by Sam Esse he teamed up with a number of graffiti writers to create artworks less ephemeral than those that could be stripped from trains and street corners.

"People might say graffiti looks really out of place in a gallery. But I think it's good if graffiti is out of place. Sneaking into these places is just what graffiti is supposed to do" he told People Magazine in August 1983.

The following year Bill Sterling opened FUN Gallery in the East Village, exhibiting an eclectic mix of artists whose work began to blur the distinctions between 'high' and 'low' art. They bought together the dynamic creations of Haring, Baqsuiat, Kenny Scharf, Futura 2000 and Zephyr to a whole new audience of gallerists, curators, collectors and critics.

Zephyr subsequently appeared in the legendary Wild Style, a film documenting Hip Hop's migration from the South Bronx to New York's East Village. Bill Sterling's partner, Patti Astor, an actress, also appeared in the film playing a reporter who introduces Hip Hop culture to the East Village- echoing perhaps her real life role at FUN. Zephyr also created the film's iconic title image

The present work perfectly captures the excitement and potential of 80s New York, when young people outside the art establishment were able to express their refusal to conform in a striking visual format and achieve recognition for it.