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Last Sunday, I had the privilege of attending one of the year’s most anticipated exhibitions: FUTURA 2000: BREAKING OUT. As a graffiti enthusiast, missing this retrospective of one of the movement’s most influential and long-standing artists was not an option. This show offers a thorough examination of FUTURA 2000’s five-decade career, marking the most comprehensive presentation ever held in his hometown of New York City.
From September 8, 2024, to March 30, 2025, BREAKING OUT immerses viewers in the artistic evolution of FUTURA 2000. The exhibition features sculptures, drawings, prints, studies, collaborations, and archival material spanning from the 1970s to the present, along with new site-specific temporary installations.
One aspect that particularly resonated with me was the tribute to other legendary graffiti writers from the 1960s, such as the great Joe 136, of Dominican origin, who was among the first to paint on New York trains. The exhibit’s theme, “The Escapades of FUTURA 2000” mentions influential figures like TAKI183, SJK, COCO144, and PHASE2. As a nod to these pioneers, here is a verse from the piece:
Verse 2: FUTURA 2000
“It started for me back in seventy-two
I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do
I saw names everywhere, style color, and flair
I knew I had to join in, I knew my answer was there
There was TAKI bein’ tacky with his Dri Mark pen
He was writin’ his name way back then
Frank 207, SJK (Aw, yeah)
COCO144 and the UGA, PHASE2, stay hot
Graffiti is a thing that’s kinda hard to explain
It’s not just runnin’ around spray paintin’ your name
It starts as a game, can’t stay the same
Dedication makes you put it in a different frame
Joe 136 (To the beat)
And there were writers in the past who I bet if you asked
Would say graffiti cannot last
But they crossed that rail and they blazed that trail
And it’s because of them that I won’t fail (You know it)
You know they jumped that fence, they crossed that track
And it’s because of them I can never be the wack (And you know that)
(To the beat)”
It’s fascinating to witness how FUTURA 2000 has remained relevant and fresh after more than 50 years in graffiti culture. His work continues to be both contemporary and authentic. I was fortunate to attend the exhibition with MATE DFA, another graffiti legend vandal of the 90s in New York City and one who strated the crew DFA. Both of us were amazed by the showcase and had the chance to reconnect with old friends. We signed black books and reminisced about the 90s, reflecting on how the graffiti movement has shaped our lives.
FUTURA 2000’s current practice continues to reflect his fascination with science fiction and the space age. His early interest in computer technology and video games is evident in his abstract cosmic compositions. He uses spray paint with virtuoso precision, creating refined lines contrasted with mists of vibrant colors and gestural brush strokes. Large empty spaces allow forms to float freely, suggesting the vastness of outer space. His recurring motifs include the atom shape, symbolizing perpetual motion; a crane or linear mark, indicating rupture; and the enigmatic Pointman, reminiscent of an alien presence.
The Bronx Museum, founded in 1971, is the perfect setting for this retrospective. It was in the South Bronx, near this museum, where FUTURA 2000 began to explore his artistic potential through graffiti. As his aesthetic evolved, he continued to use innovative techniques and materials such as spray paint and stencils, solidifying a revolutionary style in contemporary art.
The title of the exhibition, Breaking Out, refers both to FUTURA 2000’s innovative creative practice and his famous 1980 piece, Break, in which he painted the entire exterior of a NYC subway car with vibrant colors and no lettering—a milestone in the graffiti movement. At that time, FUTURA 2000 would watch his Break train pass by on the elevated tracks, just a short distance from the Bronx Museum.
Additionally, the exhibition features a limited edition of Jump Off, with 50 signed and numbered prints based on a seminal 1989 painting. This edition is sold out, but all proceeds have supported the exhibition at the Bronx Museum. The prints will be available for pickup or shipping starting in late September 2024.
About FUTURA 2000:
FUTURA 2000, the artistic name of Leonard Hilton McGurr, has had his work included in renowned museum collections such as The New Museum in New York, MOCA in Los Angeles, and Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. He has collaborated with artists like Virgil Abloh and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. In 2020, he presented FUTURA Akari at the Isamu Noguchi Museum and created a major site-specific installation at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, with representation in the U.S. by Eric Firestone Gallery and globally by the ICNCLST agency.
Exhibition Support:
The exhibition FUTURA 2000: BREAKING OUT has been curated by Robert Scalise, Director of University at Buffalo Art Galleries, and Zack Boehler, Public Art Project Coordinator at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. This iteration has been organized in collaboration with Eileen Jeng Lynch, Director of Curatorial Programs at the Bronx Museum, and is supported by the ICNCLST agency and Eric Firestone Gallery.
