Art in Transit is a journey back to 1980s New York City. The extraordinary photograph by Martha Cooper not only captured the city but is also a glimpse into graffiti history and the birth of hip hop. Through her lens Cooper’s sharp eye combined New York City’s skyline with the classic 1980s graffiti on the subways, the memory of which today has become embedded in its dna.
In addition to the graffiti painted in bright colors, we get an incomparable view of Manhattan as seen from Queens, with the majestic Queensboro Bridge with the Ravenswood Generating Station's red-and-white chimneys in the foreground. The bold colors of the graffiti by Midg, stand in stark contrast to the steel and concrete of Manhattan, and the clear blue sky above.
Art in Transit is a tribute to 1980s New York City and a unique jigsaw puzzle where you get the chance to fit together pieces of vintage New York while enjoying a special moment in hip hop history.
Martha Cooper, an American photojournalist and street photographer, is renowned for documenting New York City’s graffiti and hip-hop culture in the 1970s and 1980s. With a background in anthropology and photography, she continues to capture urban creativity, from street art to tattoo culture, cementing her legacy as a pioneer in visual storytelling.
Cooper has published several books through Dokument Press, including Tag Town (2007) and Tokyo Tattoo (2012, 2025).
