ANIMAL » COPE2

‘Urban Scrawl’ Auctioned Off

Marina Galperina — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:30:27 +0000

Tuesday afternoon, Artnet’s “Urban Scrawl: Graffiti and Street Art” week-long online auction ended, having attracted twice the traffic of its predecessors. Among the hot-ticket items and highlights: the staple bunch of Banksys and Harings, FUTURA’s Untitled for $17,250, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Cabeza for $19,550 and COPE2′s recently “appropriated” subway sign Church Av Station to Flatbush Av only (2010) sold for $2,530.

COPE2′s ‘Transition’ Exhibit

Bucky Turco — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:09:15 +0000

Renowned graffiti vandal and artiste COPE2 opens up an exhibit of new work on Thursday at the East Village’s TT Gallery. The art speak-laced press release says the paintings “arise from the obstruction of producing graffiti pieces in the streets paradigm to a permanent transfixed surface.” I have no idea what that means, but feel free to speculate below. “Transition,” COPE2, April 7th – April 18th, TT Gallery, NYC

Art: Graffiti Vandalized Subway Maps

Bucky Turco — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:36:13 +0000

Having graffiti writers draw on NYC subway maps isn’t all that original and has been done countless times, all of which we’ve dutifully covered, but there’s still something appealing about them. So, here’s some of the latest additions by storied bombers to Dirty Pilot’s ‘Map Quest’ exhibit. They’re almost guaranteed to turn a profit.

LUSH’s Piss-Take Exhibit

Bucky Turco — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:27:56 +0000

An Australian graffiti writer with a penchant for mischief and jackassery, just fired shots… at everyone for his “Street Art Sale” exhibit. From Catholics to fixed gear bikes and some of the world’s most acclaimed graffiti writers and street artists, LUSH’s solo show at the Backwoods Gallery just outside of Melbourne is wildly humorous and critical of just about every facet of hip urban culture.

Although he admits that he’ll “probably get stabbed” for it, he made a COPE2 coffin and took a swipe at legendary subway bomber CAP. Banksy and “SPACE INGAYDERS” were not spared either. That fixed gear is also the most frightening thing ever devised. Damn you LUSH! (Photos: Mercyfulfate/flickr & Backwoods Gallery)

Graffiti Writers Endorse Shepard Fairey’s Mural

Bucky Turco — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:45:36 +0000

Despite a brewing undercurrent of hate for Shepard Fairey’s Deitch mural amongst many of NYC’s graffiti writers, he can still count on a few vandals to have his back. COPE2 dropped by the street artist’s wall and having recently partnered with him in the Bronx, painted the outside edge along with EWOK and INDIE. Someone else left a not so supportive message for Shep, see it below.

Photos: Marina Galperina/ANIMALnewyork

When Worlds Collide

Bucky Turco — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:12:45 +0000

Shepard Fairey can rest assured that COPE2 won’t be one of the vandals conspiring against his Deitch mural. While in town, the street artist collaborated with the notorious graffiti bomber on this mixed media piece in the Bronx. Extra flicks and a bonus video can be seen below.

Video: EWOK 5MH

‘Generations’ Graffiti Exhibit Facing Final Days

Will Sherman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:00:03 +0000

Celebrated vandal and art theft victim COPE2 curated a graffiti-centric exhibit at Toy Toyko’s Showroom Gallery. “The Generations” show includes pieces by a long list of artists, more than three dozen ranging from old school subway bombers to street artists and photographers. Works on display include some “hot shit” by Andrea von Bujdoss, a cloud painting by CAP MPC, TAKI 183′s $5k tagged up paper, Okuda’s scantily-clad penguin still life, photos of old Krink bottles and plenty of hand drawn pieces.

“The Generations,” December 3 – December 9, The Showroom NYC, 117 Second Ave, 2nd Floor

German Police Looking for American Graffiti Writer’s Artwork

Bucky Turco — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:54:33 +0000

World renowned graffiti writer and frequent subject of controversy, COPE2, had a show in Berlin recently—here he is preparing for it—and this past weekend, a crew of thieves broke into the Skalitzers gallery and stole most of the artwork. The gallery alerted the Berlin police, who are now on the hunt for the stolen pieces, but they’re also “offering a reward, no questions asked, for their return.” Stay tuned! |GraffKingdom|

COPE2 Drops Bomb on ALIFE

Will Sherman — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:43:33 +0000

True to form, graffiti writer COPE2 plastered a throw-up over the ALIFE logo for his part in a new series of t-shirt collaborations. The series, ALIFE x THE PEOPLE, is a self-proclaimed “tribute to originality” but you can buy the same shirt, minus the ALIFE logo and $10, from COPE’s own t-shirt line. |12oz|

Graffiti Writers Claim Vandal Squad Author Used Stolen Photos

Bucky Turco — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:15:11 +0000

While it’s true that no real sparks flew at last night’s Vandals vs. Vandal Squad discussion at the powerHouse arena, there were some interesting revelations about author Joe “Blow” Rivera’s mostly irrelevant book on graffiti. For one, several writers, including panelist KET, claimed that some of the photos published in “Vandal Squad: Inside the New York City Transit Police Department, 1984-2004″ were either stolen or obtained improperly and definitely in violation of copyright! Rivera denied the charge, insisting they were his or “donated” from various sources.

It was interesting to note how inarticulate Rivera was in person. He stuck to talking points, read prepared commentary right off his notes, and appeared uncomfortable answering any questions that strayed from his script. There was also rumors swirling around that he didn’t even really write the book and that powerHouse PR flack Sara Rosen was ultimately responsible for heavily editing it.

|Photo: Joe Conzo by way of COPE2|