Futura 2000

The godfather of abstract graffiti art, Futura 2000 is a true legend in the graffiti world. Futura, whose real name is Leonard Hilton McGurr, was born in 1955 in New York City. He started to paint illegally on New York City's subway in the early 1970s. Back in the early 1980s, he showed with Patti Astor at the Fun Gallery, along with Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Hambleton, and Kenny Scharf. It is safe to say that Futura made history in the American graffiti scene in the '80s.

One of the most distinctive features of Futura's work is his unique abstract approach to graffiti. While the primary focus of the majority of graffiti artists was lettering, Futura pioneered abstract street art, which has since become more popular. Conversely, his aerosol strokes are regarded as different from those of his peers, as they are as thin as the fine lines usually associated with the use of an airbrush. Futura made a significant leap to the canvas in 1980, and in 1981 he toured with The Clash, painting live on stage as they performed throughout Europe. Known for his color schemes, concentric forms, and kinetic compositions, FUTURA redesigned the BMW M2 Competition, by giving it an exceptional look and bringing contemporary art to the public realm.

Today, Futura is widely regarded as the pioneer who introduced graffiti art to the formal gallery ecosystem. His impressive abstract graffiti is blurring virtual reality and hyperrealism with a retro-futuristic twist. His unique art and style gave him recognition as one of the most sought-after artists.