12ozProphet

Recognized as one of the most prolific artists in the New York Graffiti scene throughout the 1980’s and 90’s, West has been painting publicly for the past 24 years. Born and raised in New York City, the grandson of Russian-Jewish immigrants, West began painting on the number 1 Broadway local subway line in 1984. It was there that he delved fully into the lettering arts, and where he began to recognize graffiti’s social relevance as the crossroads of art, culture, and personal identity. Throughout the mid to late 80’s West became known for his clean ‘simple style’ letters, and as one of the last of a handful of artists who was actively painting just before the demise of subway graffiti in New York. Throughout the 1990’s, West, along with his ‘Fame City’ crew was recognized as a major influence in the NYC graffiti movement by spearheading concept-driven, thematic productions which are now standard in large scale graffiti mural painting.

Since 2001, West has taken a radical departure away from the uniform structure of traditional graffiti letters and technique. In his current work he has pushed into the realms of abstract expressionism and stripped the artform of all of its traditional trappings of color, medium, and process. As a result, a new and unique language has emerged in his work.

West first exhibited in 1985 with Librizzi Gallery’s ‘Graffiti & East Village Artists’ show, and has since exhibited in numerous solo and group shows shows in New York and internationally. West is currently working on a collection of large scale Black & White paintings in his “Anti Graff” series which will premier at a solo show at the Magda Danysz gallery in Paris in July, 2008.

http://www.westonefc.com