Crash is the moniker of John Matos, who adopted the name after he accidentally crashed his school’s computer. Matos’s graffiti career began at 13, when he joined a group of older teenagers and started tagging trains in New York City—he became especially known for his embrace of a muralistic style, opposed to the more standard practice of tagging. Considered an early pioneer of the global street art movement, Matos curated the groundbreaking exhibition Graffiti Art Success for America at Fashion MODA in 1980 and in 1983 secured gallery representation with Sidney Janis Gallery. Today, Matos has collaborated with a wide range of brands, including Fender, Levi’s, and Absolut Vodka, and is co-owner of the Bronx gallery Wallworks New York.
Auction Results Crash (John Matos)
