Gallery 1: 1980-1984
My works have been mostly extremely undercover, and most still remain incognito. In Los Angeles, wherever I did show some of my books, it was often the viewers’ first exposure to NY style writing, and usually the most vast collection of graff works that they had encountered. However youthful in nature these works may appear today, it should be understood that they were done in a truly special time in the world, when the spread of NYC Writing and Hip Hop was entirely a new occurrence.
Here are just a very few samples. Notice also the considerable, relentless varieties of styles.
DC#1 Bubble-letter and straight-letter combination, with a Puerto Rican flag fill-in, initially done in the Bronx, 1980. This is from an early ‘79-’80 piecebook of mine. When I relocated to LA in ‘82, I retraced several of my outlines and added color with markers. Thus, I re-marked several of them as done in ’82. This one shows ’80-’82.
Markski piece Platform block style, with multi-direction 3D, done in the Bronx, circa ’80-’81. When I relocated to LA, I retraced it with marker and updated it to ’82.
Also, Break Dancing; Funky Fresh All Starz. Time-walking self-cartoon, my Bodé-esc lizard tutting (no reference), and original character. The 2 Fresh piece has a simple straight-letter mechanical style, with a downward/ fanned outward 3D. Done in NY, Summer ’84.
Blockish letters, with a Cincinnati Bengals style fill-in, and cross-hatched 3D. Signed “Freeze Rok.” Done in Pico Rivera, very early ’84.
Very original blockish mechanical wild style, layered with block shapes, and lifted by a drop shadow. Done in ’84.
An extra “T” for emphasis and balance. Semi-wild style heart letters, layered with platforms and arrows, with a 3D. Signed “Freeze Rockin’ Markski.” Done circa late ’84.