Spray Nation: 1980s NYC Graffiti Photos

Martha Cooper is a photographer who has spent decades immortalizing art that is often overlooked and illegal. Her first book, Subway Art, is affectionately referred to by graffiti artists as the "bible". To create Spray Nation, Cooper and editor Roger Gastman pored through hundreds of thousands of 35mm Kodachrome slides, selecting and digitizing them. The photos capture a gritty New York era that is gone forever, and although the original pieces have been lost, the photos feel as immediate as a subway train thundering down the tracks.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2022
Publisher: Prestel

Graffiti artist in 1980s New York City had a dream: to have Martha Cooper document their work. And chances are, their wish came true. Cooper has dedicated decades to immortalizing art that is often overlooked and, in many cases, illegal. Her first book, Subway Art, published in the 1980s, is affectionately referred to by graffiti artists as the "bible." To create Spray Nation, Cooper and editor Roger Gastman combed through hundreds of thousands of 35mm Kodachrome slides, carefully selecting and digitizing them. The photos span a range of subjects, from obscure tags to portraits, action shots, walls, and painted subway cars. Accompanying the images are heartfelt essays that celebrate Cooper's drive, spirit, and singular vision. While the original pieces and many of their creators may have been lost over time, the powerful photos in Spray Nation feel as immediate as a subway train thundering down the tracks. They capture a gritty New York era that has long since vanished, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

Weight: 1606g
Dimension: 305 x 202 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783791388748