All posts tagged: Martha Cooper Libray at Urban Nation Berlin

Books in the MCL: City of Kings: A History of NYC Graffiti

Books in the MCL: City of Kings: A History of NYC Graffiti

As founding members of the Martha Cooper Library at the Urban Nation Museum in Berlin, Brooklyn Street Art (BSA) proudly showcases a monthly feature from the MCL collection, illuminating the extensive and diverse treasures we’re assembling for both researchers and enthusiasts of graffiti, street art, urban art, and its numerous offshoots. Below, we present one of our latest selections.


“A History of New York City GRAFFITI” Books in the MCL. Urban Nation Museum Berlin. (photo © Sebastian Kläbsch)

Text Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo

“City of Kings: A History of NYC Graffiti” is a crafted exploration of the graffiti scene’s historical roots in New York City. Born from a prominent exhibition co-curated by Al Diaz, Eric Felisbret, and Mariah Fox, this book transcends the role of a mere catalog to become a substantive text that presents a detailed overview of the graffiti movement in a structured, academic, and engaging manner.

Al Diaz, an original New York graffiti writer and a member of the influential SAMO© duo with Basquiat, not only shares his own contributions but also illuminates the collaborative history of the movement. He eloquently describes the perseverance of graffiti artists, painting a vivid picture of their dedication.” Click URBAN NATION BERLIN to continue reading.

“A History of New York City GRAFFITI” Books in the MCL. Urban Nation Museum Berlin. (photo © Sebastian Kläbsch)
“A History of New York City GRAFFITI” Books in the MCL. Urban Nation Museum Berlin. (photo © Sebastian Kläbsch)
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