Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection
Lettering: Eric HazeDesign Team: Olivia de Salve Villedieu, Emily Schmidt
Press: Hyperallergic; New York Times
“Like all major art collections, Wong’s represents a bet, less in graffiti’s appreciable sales value than in its ability to make visible what was before an invisible segment of society. Wong’s bet is paying off, even as institutions that bought his own work remain indifferent to graffiti. That they still haven’t caught up tells you how far ahead he could see.“ NY Times
Loud, bold, and unapologetically New York, Above Ground centers on the many artists who transitioned from illegally writing on subway cars to creating paintings on canvas and exhibiting in galleries and museums. As lead designer, I focused on creating an environment that celebrated this transition, balancing the scale and energy of large-format works with intimate preparatory sketches and ephemera. The gallery’s layout gives each work breathing room, and uses sustainable materials—including reclaimed wood plinths and low-VOC paints— to align with the DIY ethos of the graffiti movement while minimizing environmental impact. The strong typography, layered sight lines, and sculptural hanging throughout this gallery envokes the rebellious edge of this art form.