The first book documenting Miami’s graffiti scene by the photographers and authors of the two best-selling New York City graffiti art books, Broken Windows (Gingko Press 2002) and Burning New York (Gingko Press 2006). The graffiti art featured in Miami Graffiti is full of vibrant, tropical colors and a multitude of styles reflecting the surrounding environment. Alongside works of hundreds of artists are interviews, which take the reader on a lush visual journey through this unique and flourishing art form.
If Miami isn’t a city normally associated with graffiti, this vibrant and exquisitely photographed collection of works will make readers think again. Over two hundred images reflect Miami’s hugely diverse culture with their eye-popping colors, Art Deco flourishes, depictions of palm trees, beaches, marine life, and local iconic figures. Here, a surprising and dangerous underside to the area is also captured. Extensive coverage of abandoned buildings nicknamed Penits, A” de facto museums where entire crews practice their styles, and on-the-outs writers occasionally end up living, proves there is more to the city than South Beach’s glitz and glam. Dozens of close-up shots reveal gorgeous, intricate detail, and in-process shots illustrate the technique of turning blank walls, buses, billboards, and other public canvases into stunning masterpieces. Quotes from the city’s leading graffiti artists including Crome, Quake, and Siner lend further local perspective to this increasingly popular and universal urban art form.
JAMES and KARLA MURRAY are professional photographers and authors. Their books include Broken Windows, Burning New York and Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York. They live and work in Florida and New York, where their photos have been exhibited at the Brooklyn Historical Society and the New-York Historical Society.