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Futura

Untitled

circa 2006

Mixed media: black and yellow markers and red and orange spray paint on paper

38 × 25 cm

Unique

Location: paris, France

https://www.artransfer.com/web/image/product.template/29473/image_1920?unique=54efff7

4,320 € 4320.0 EUR 4,320 €

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About the artwork

A mixed-media composition on paper, this work features an interplay of black and yellow marker lines superimposed on red and orange aerosol splatters. The central motif consists of elongated, curvilinear black and yellow forms that suggest an abstract, almost architectural or futuristic structure. These dominant lines are punctuated by red and orange spray paint applications, creating a sense of movement and spontaneity on the surface. The background is a light-colored paper with warm tones, subtly shaded with a yellowish tint in certain areas, providing a soft contrast to the foreground elements. Fine black specks, likely from aerosol spray, are scattered across the entire surface, unifying the composition and adding textural depth. In the upper right quadrant, a yellow circular shape, rendered in marker, suggests a celestial body or a point of energy, while a more structured, grid-like element in black marker occupies the left side, evoking urban infrastructure or scaffolding. The artist’s signature is visible in the upper right corner, integrated into the overall design in a calligraphic style. The combination of precise lines and uncontrolled splatters demonstrates a balance between deliberate construction and expressive gesture. The work illustrates the artist’s characteristic fusion of graffiti aesthetics with the principles of abstract painting.

Expert opinion

This work is part of the post-graffiti abstraction movement, which emerged from the urban art scene of the late 20th century. The artist’s transition from public spaces to galleries has allowed for an exploration of his visual language on more traditional media, while retaining the energy and spontaneity of his urban roots. The use of mixed media, combining markers and spray paint, is characteristic of this period and reflects an ongoing engagement with materials associated with graffiti. In the contemporary art market, this artist’s works are sought after by collectors interested in the history of graffiti and urban art, as well as by those who appreciate abstract expressionism and postwar American art. His established career and consistent output contribute to a stable market presence. Works on paper, particularly unique compositions, serve as an entry point for collectors or an addition to existing collections, showcasing the artist’s aesthetic principles.

About the artist

Leonard McGurr, aka Futura, was born in New York in 1955. Futura was one of the very first graffiti artists to break away from lettering in the early '80s and create abstract compositions. Futura soon developed a body of work on canvas, which he exhibited alongside artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf. The key elements of the style we know today are already there: clouds of color with subtle variations, extremely fine lines that seem to scratch the surface, and above all that astonishing fluidity of execution that gives his works that distinctive atmospheric tone. His style and virtuosity have made Futura a key figure in the urban art scene, which has spanned the ages and made a mockery of simplistic categories. He is regularly invited to take part in projects and exhibitions by institutions around the world, including the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the MOCA in Los Angeles and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

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