Martha Cooper & the rise of New Yorks graffiti culture.
Martha Cooper is a renowned photographer whose work has been instrumental in documenting the rise of graffiti culture in New York City. Her photographs of subway graffiti from the 1970s and 80s are now considered iconic, capturing the energy and creativity of a movement that has since become a global phenomenon.
Born in 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, Cooper initially pursued a career in ethnographic photography, working for the Peace Corps in Thailand and documenting traditional cultures around the world. But it was her move to New York City in the 1970s that sparked her interest in street photography, and specifically, in the emerging graffiti scene.
At the time, graffiti was still largely considered a form of vandalism, with many New Yorkers seeing it as a blight on the city’s subway system. But Cooper was fascinated by the artistry and daring of the graffiti writers, and she began to photograph their work in earnest, often risking her own safety to capture images of the trains as they raced through the city.
Cooper’s photographs of graffiti are notable for their composition and detail, capturing the intricate designs and bold colors of the writers’ tags and murals. But they also go beyond mere documentation, offering a glimpse into the lives and personalities of the graffiti writers themselves.
In 1984, Cooper co-authored the book “Subway Art” with fellow photographer Henry Chalfant, which has since become a classic of street art literature. The book featured hundreds of Cooper’s photographs of subway graffiti, along with interviews with the writers themselves, providing an unprecedented look at a subculture that had previously been shrouded in mystery.
Since the publication of “Subway Art,” Cooper has continued to document street art and graffiti around the world, including in countries like Japan, Thailand, and Brazil. Her photographs have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and she has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to the field of photography.
But perhaps the most enduring legacy of Cooper’s work is the role it played in elevating graffiti from a form of vandalism to a recognized art form. Today, graffiti and street art are celebrated in cities around the world, with artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey achieving global recognition for their work.
Through her photographs, Martha Cooper helped to document and legitimize a movement that has since become an integral part of contemporary art and culture. Her images of New York graffiti are a testament to the power and beauty of street art, and a reminder of the creativity and resilience of the human spirit.
