Seen (artist)
Template:Short description Template:Infobox artist
Richard Mirando, known as Seen, is an American graffiti artist.<ref name="independent-wyatt">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="time-bachor">Template:Cite news</ref> He is one of the best known graffiti artists in the world and has been referred to as the Godfather of Graffiti.<ref name="independent-wyatt" />
Seen first started to paint on the New York City Subway system in 1973.<ref name="independent-wyatt" />
He was born in the Bronx, New York City.
Life
For the next 16 years he painted pieces across the city and on all subway routes, but they were especially prominent on the 2, 5, and 6 trains. He was responsible for dozens of whole-car top-to-bottoms, many of which have become iconic images of the time.Template:Citation needed
During the very early 1980s he started producing work on canvas, shown by galleries and bought by museums and private collectors.Template:Citation needed He continued to paint New York City subway trains until 1989, long after increased pressure from the MTA had stopped many from doing so. He was included in the 1983 PBS documentary Style Wars.Template:Citation needed
In the late 1980s he also undertook tattoo art, opening Tattoo Seen, a tattoo parlor<ref name="independent-wyatt" /> which became one of the most successful studios in New York City.Template:Citation needed His more recent work includes three-dimensional sculpture, mixed media work with reclaimed or discarded materials (often found in the street), and a series of hand-painted MTA New York subway maps. He continues to exhibit worldwide and produce work with and alongside artists such as Banksy.Template:Citation needed
In 2009, the Seen Gallery opened in Paris before becoming the Seen Studios,<ref name=seencity>Template:Cite web</ref> France.
He has focused on painting comic book heroes.<ref name="independent-wyatt" /> He has his own clothing line that prints t-shirts with his lettering and comic hero renderings.<ref name="independent-wyatt" />
Exhibitions
Solo shows
- 1982, 1983, 1985 : The Yaki Kornblitt Gallery, AmsterdamTemplate:Citation needed
- 1983 : Stellweg-Seguy gallery, New York CityTemplate:Citation needed
- 1985 : Suntory company, TokyoTemplate:Citation needed
- 1995 : Clayton Gallery, New York CityTemplate:Citation needed
- 2001 : Twenty-four Gallery, Vancouver. Bob's Gallery, New York CityTemplate:Citation needed
- 2003 : Toy Tokyo Gallery, New York City. STIP Gallery, Amsterdam. Stussy SF Gallery, San Francisco. Concrete Vibes Gallery, New York City. Marco Art Gallery, New York CityTemplate:Citation needed
- 2005 : Rocket World Gallery, San Francisco. Outside Institute Space, Londres. Prosper Gallery, Tokyo. Mc Caigwelles Gallery, New York CityTemplate:Citation needed
- 2006 : Stolen Space gallery, LondonTemplate:Citation needed
- 2007 : Seen City, Galerie Chappe, Paris<ref name=seencity/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Seen, l'emblème du graffiti, Marie Claire, 2007</ref>
- 2009 : The 1st SEEN Pop-Up Show, Lyon<ref name=seencity/>
- 2009 : Carhartt Gallery, Weil am Rhein<ref name=seencity/>
- 2009 : Kleerup Gallery, Stockholm<ref name=seencity/>
- 2010 : PleaSE ENjoy @ Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris<ref name=seencity/>
- 2011 : Seen, Opera Gallery, ParisTemplate:Citation needed
Bibliography
References
External links
- The official Richard Mirando website
- UA @ 149st
- Interview with Seen Radio France Internationale
- The Cornell Hip Hop Collection preserves 149 of Seen's original drawings and 370 original photographs of his work