Futura
Untitled
circa 2006
Dark gray silkscreen print, hand-embellished with drops of black spray paint, signed in black marker on drawing paper.
50 × 70 cm
Unique
Location: paris, France
Arianee token ID
840524622
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About the artwork
A dynamic composition unfolds on the paper, featuring a stylized, semi-abstract figure rendered in bold black lines. The central form—perhaps representing a figure in motion—features a skeletal or robotic head with defined teeth and angular facial features. Its body is composed of energetic, gestural brushstrokes, with a distinct block-shaped element on the left side, possibly indicating an arm or an object. The work is characterized by its monochromatic palette, using dark gray screen printing as a base, which is then overlaid with hand-applied drops of black spray paint. These splatters are distributed across the entire surface, creating a textured background and reinforcing the sense of movement and raw energy within the piece. The artist’s signature is prominently placed in the lower left quadrant.
Expert opinion
This work illustrates Futura’s approach to figuration and abstraction, which is characteristic of his work from the mid-2000s. It reflects his transition from pure graffiti to studio practice, retaining the spontaneity of urban art while using traditional art materials. The use of screen printing combined with hand-finishing highlights a common practice among street artists who blend printing techniques with unique artistic interventions. The market for Futura’s works remains strong, driven by collectors interested in the origins of street art and its evolution into forms of contemporary art. His pieces are regularly offered at major auction houses and galleries specializing in urban and contemporary art.
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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