catalogue - Skalitzers

Skalitzers
CONTEMPORARY ART
FINE LINES - NEW WORKS BY COPE2
FINE LINES
COPE2
The tag, also referred to as handstyle, urban calligraphy
or ‘writing’, is a personal statement or signature: an
expression of identity. The work of many artists starts
and ends with the tag. For some the tag represents the
basis from which they developed their style into less
abstract art forms. For many of these artists tagging is a
relevant part of their work, others' entire message is
contained within their tag.
One of New York's most prolific writers, Cope2 has achieved
international recognition for his distinctive style. Born in the
South Bronx he began writing in 1978. He developed his
style in the subways and streets of the Bronx throughout the
1980s and 1990s, becoming a legend on the street both in
New York and internationally. Cope2 crosses between art
world, mainstream and street culture alike.
Reaching across culture, class and age, the tag is a
global art form: a pure form of self expression and style.
Originating in Philadelphia in the 1960s and New York in
the early 1970s, other isolated styles also developed
independently including the pixação style in São Paulo.
The tag has, for the most part, been either ignored or
openly reviled yet for decades it has laid the foundation
for a number of related art forms which have developed
from the streets to galleries worldwide.
Since first putting pen to canvas in 2000 as part of the
historic Guernsey's ‘Graffiti at Auction’ event his art has gone
on to be exhibited in galleries and museums both in the US
and Europe. In recent years Cope2 has been commissioned
by Time Magazine and designed shoes for Converse and
Adidas. His work has even crossed into the virtual realm with
appearances in video games 'Getting up' and 'Grand Theft
Auto IV'.
‘Fine Lines’ is his first solo show in Europe.
Black & Silver Tags
Ink on canvas
100 x 70 cm
9
‘White Tags’
Junobo on Canvas
90 x 70 cm
10
‘Silver Tags’
Krink on Canvas
70 x 90 cm
12
11
Ink & Spraypaint on Canvas
90 x 70 cm
13
Krink & Spraypaint on Canvas
100 x 80 cm
Junobo & Spraypaint on Canvas
60 x 40 cm
14
Edition of 50
Ink on Chirico Board
30 x 24 cm
‘Pure Throw Up’
Spraypaint on Canvas
140 x 80 cm
15
‘Nude Throw Up’
Spraypaint on Canvas
140 x 80 cm
16
17
‘The Skeleton’
Spraypaint on canvas
3 x 180 x 90 cm
COPE2 (NEW YORK)
Born 1968, Bronx, New York
Lives & works in the Bronx, New York
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & AUCTIONS
2009
‘TKid x Cope2’, M2 Gallery, New York
‘Graffiti – Street Art’, Millon & Associes Auction, Paris
‘Street Art’, Artcurial Auction, Paris
‘TAG au Grand Palais’, Gallizia Collection, Paris
‘All that Glitters is Gold’, McCaig Welles Gallery, New York
(Guest Curator)
‘The Sharpie Show’, Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles
‘Come Correct’, The Showroom Gallery, New York
2008
‘Top of the Line’, The Showroom Gallery, New York (Guest
Curator)
2007
‘The Walls Belong to Us’, New York
‘New York Legends’, McCaig Welles Gallery, New York
2006
‘Graffiti Art Overdose’, McCaig Welles Gallery, New York
2005
‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’, Fifty24SF Gallery, San Francisco
2004
‘Cope2’, Defiance Gallery, Chicago (Solo exhibition)
‘Tag the System’, The Showroom Gallery, New York
2000
‘Graffiti at Auction’, Guernsey’s, New York
Skalitzers Contemporary Art
Skalitzer Str. 43, Berlin
Germany
by appointment
info@skalitzers.com