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MIDGE rtw

Tribute to IZ THE WIZ

2015

Marker on paper

22 × 31 cm

Unique

Location: Paris, France

https://www.artransfer.com/web/image/product.template/36987/image_1920?unique=b2ea3ee

140 € 140.0 EUR 140 €

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About the artwork

xecuted in marker on a sketchbook page, this drawing is a vibrant tribute to the legendary New York graffiti writer IZ THE WIZ (Michael Martin). Titled The Little Bigman, the work features a dense, layered composition characteristic of graffiti blackbook culture, with multiple stylized renditions of the iconic "IZ" throw-up intertwined with tags, stars, and dynamic line work. The inscription "Tribute to IZ THE WIZ", together with the title, the date 2015, and the initials RTW, leaves no doubt as to the artist's intention: to celebrate the life and legacy of one of New York's most influential writers. Created by MIDGE, a fellow member of the legendary Rolling Thunder Writers (RTW) crew and a longtime friend of IZ THE WIZ, the drawing reflects both a personal homage and a historical document. Measuring 22 × 30.3 cm, it exemplifies the tradition of blackbook sketching, where graffiti artists refine their lettering styles while preserving ideas and memories outside the urban environment. Accompanying the drawing is a documentary photograph taken in 1991, showing MIDGE alongside IZ THE WIZ. Included for contextual purposes only, the photograph highlights the close relationship between the two artists and reinforces the authenticity and emotional significance of the tribute. Together, the drawing and the photograph provide a rare glimpse into the enduring camaraderie of the RTW crew and the living legacy of New York City's golden age of graffiti.

Expert opinion

The market for street art and graffiti has matured over the past two decades,with works by pioneering artists achieving recognition in galleries and auction houses. Pieces on paper,particularly those by foundational figures or those referencing them,hold a specific place within this market. The value of such works is often tied to the artist's historical significance,their involvement in influential crews,and the authenticity of their connection to the origins of the movement. Tribute pieces like this one,while not directly by the celebrated IZ THE WIZ,derive their market interest from the enduring legacy of the honored artist and the cultural context they represent. IZ THE WIZ's own works on paper have sold for up to 3,046 USD at auction. The association with the RTW crew further enhances the art historical context,as RTW was instrumental in shaping the aesthetic of early New York subway graffiti.

About the artist

MIDGE is an American graffiti artist and a member of the legendary RTW (Rolling Thunder Writers) crew, one of New York City's pioneering graffiti collectives during the 1970s and 1980s. RTW played a key role in the development of the city's subway graffiti movement and was prominently featured in Henry Chalfant's first seminal book on graffiti, placing MIDGE among the artists who helped define the golden age of New York graffiti.

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