Irie Books NY City of Kings: A History of New York City Graffiti

NY City of Kings chronicles the history of graffiti's genesis in New York from its late 1960s origin to the present, as seen through the lens of writers who started the movement. This narrative intends to help elucidate how the unprecedented movement of NYC graffiti culture spread internationally, and how graffiti has become so lodged and influential within our present popular culture. The accompanying exhibit installation features a monumental walk-through timeline covering the rich, complex history of New York graffiti history, including hundreds of famous and obscure images, lore and facts from 1967 to the present. "What makes this exhibit different is that the narrative is told through the lens, and voice of the actual players who created graffiti, not observers, gallerists, art historians, collectors or academics. New York City graffiti artists have historically been underrepresented and our narrative has been misinterpreted or skewed. An accessible, concise account for the general public has been overdue. As a lifelong, committed member of the graffiti and art communities, I feel compelled to share this story, and I am proud to have an opportunity to tell it." - Al Díaz, NYC (August 2022)