Saatchi Gallery seeks to collaborate with artists in an open and honest manner with a primary aim of introducing their work to wider audiences. With every exhibition we’ve put together I always learn something new and London is no exception. The amount of stories and historical moments–some of which may have been forgotten and arguably unknown until now–are what will make our Saatchi Gallery show such a spectacle. We really hope to educate and inspire through a curious lens that digs into the nooks and crannies of all these subcultures and the massive role London played in bringing them to light on a world stage” –Curator, Roger Gastman Confirmed artists: Wall Posse B Girl, St-Pauls Carnival, 1986, Beezer Photos No area of Saatchi Gallery will be left untouched; visitors will be immersed by works and ephemera on view across hallways, tunnels and staircases and will enter rooms exploring the birth of graffiti like never seen before. These spaces will showcase a wall of Jenny Holzer’s truisms; Henry Chalfant’s photography of NYC train writers in action; together with AIKO’s timeless stenciling of delicate silhouettes and Gordon Matta-Clark’s extraordinary archive of graffiti photography. With every exhibition we’ve put together, I always learn something new, and London is no exception,’ says Gastman. ‘The amount of stories and historical moments – some of which may have been forgotten and arguably unknown until now – are what will make our Saatchi Gallery show such a spectacle. We really hope to educate and inspire through a curious lens that digs into the nooks and crannies of all these subcultures and the massive role London played in bringing them to light on a world stage.’ On entering the Saatchi Gallery you will be greeted by Todd James’s installation The Vandal’s Bedroom. In the first chapter ‘Music & Art Converge’, visitors will explore the socio-political turmoil of the late 70s and 80s, where the decline of cities met artistic resistance, a shift which was felt in both the US and UK.

With the generous support of all our patrons, for each major exhibition, there are opportunities for students and community groups to engage in creative projects and workshops. Visit saatchigallery.com/learning or call +44 (0) 20 7811 3087 for more details.

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For Martha Cooper’s latest release, BEYOND THE STREETS dove deep into her unpublished archive of early 1980s NYC graffiti. Working closely with Cooper, BTS selected and assembled over 800 photos, carefully culling from dozens of boxes of slides, many unopened for decades to create this exclusive box set, available only on BEYOND THE STREETS Inspired by the rich sporting heritage of adidas – one of the world’s leading sports brands and a global designer and developer of athletic footwear and apparel – adidas Originals is a lifestyle brand founded in 2001. With the adidas archive at its foundation, adidas Originals continues to evolve the brand’s legacy through its commitment to product innovation and its ability to filter the creativity and courage found on courts and sporting arenas through the lens of contemporary youth culture. Marked by the iconic Trefoil logo that was first used in 1972 and championed by those that continue to shape and define creative culture, adidas Originals continues to lead the way as the pioneering sportswear brand for the street. adidas.co.uk/originals Categories Graffiti is something that people have been doing for centuries. It’s the voice of the city, a canvas for people who live or pass through, to speak out. We have an urge to explore our cities, and some have the urge to go further than just walking down paths.

Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has presented contemporary art exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging artists. Exhibitions which drew upon the collection of Charles Saatchi, led to Saatchi Gallery becoming a recognised authority in contemporary art globally. The Gallery acquired a strong reputation for introducing artists who would later gain worldwide recognition. In 2019 Saatchi Gallery became a registered charity and began a new chapter in its history. OUR MISSION Lloyd’s resilience makers her more than a survivor or even the fitting, but now clichéd, inspiration. She’s a walking miracle and whether or not they realise it, so are all those who have been down a similar path and lived to tell the tale, regardless of where they are in the recovery process. Even those yet to begin. He further explained that “They aren’t finished in many ways, but they do offer a peek into how I first started developing ideas for what would become artwork for tattoos, magazines and even logos. These pen and pencil drawings are raw, very unpolished and definitely not digital like many things are these days. They’re old-school sketches on paper that I’m hyped to see come together and be presented in a way that can celebrate my journey as an artist. It’s not always about being perfect, but rather keeping things loose and fluid to express all the ideas in my head.” FREIGHT TRAIN GRAFFITI , a 2023 version of the acclaimed 2006 book by Roger Gastman, Darin Rowland and Ian Sattler. Featuring 500+ additional images, larger trim size and updated hardcover, it serves as a bigger and bolder 2nd edition to the original book – heralded as the definitive history of freight train graffiti.The exhibition headline supporter is adidas Originals. Support also provided by LA Tourism Board and onefinestay. In the final chapter ‘ The Next Phase’you will be able to engage with new op-art works by Felipe Pantone. BTS London will be the biggest and most comprehensive street art and graffiti exhibition to arrive in the UK and will, most importantly, celebrate the city’s impact on the medium. “In the mid-90s, there was a street art explosion throughout Europe, with London being one of the key cities at the forefront,” Gastman tells Dazed. “For more than 15 years, it continued to evolve, [birthing] new ideas and new artists.” Between the beginnings of contemporary graffiti in a decaying 1970s New York and the international movement of the present day, the cultural influence and impact of the art form are nearly immeasurable. BTS explores these links deeply, featuring work from cross-cultural icons like Malcolm McClaren, Fab 5 Freddy, FUTURA2000, Goldie, Beastie Boys and Shepard Fairey, whose influence stretches far beyond just art, fashion or music. Lloyd’s memoir is essential reading, whether or not you feel a particular connection to the subject. This is a worldwide social epidemic and we would do well to understand its complexities; if nothing else to make us more alert to what might be going on under our noses. The ‘Legends’ chapter will present icons such as legendary NYC artist, Eric HAZE, a torch bearer for generations to come; a new large-scale painting by abstract expressionist artist José Parlá; advertisement posters by KAWS, a prominent creative force; and unique ephemera by Keith Haring, one of the most popular street artists of the 1980s.

With new special commissions, the exhibition – supported by adidas Originals, marks the first time in eight years a show has taken over the entirety of Saatchi Gallery, spanning an immense 70,000 sq ft. I’m not sure if it’s important to be a successful gallery artist, but graffiti and the streets are certainly a part of me and will be forever. Most of my friends are graffiti writers, most people that work at my studio are writers and, even though I’m very busy doing other things now, I’m very much connected to graffiti culture. Perhaps you don't think of the late and legendary Margaret Kilgallen as a graffiti artist per se, but her works on the streets and trains become a connector between the bohemian and folk aspects of graffiti and street art. This book, although featuring her fine art as well, is her perfect monograph, and one of the great books of the Mission School movement. Not only did it elevate Kilgallen into one of the most important artists of her generation, it also showed just how widespread and nuanced graffiti's spirit had become. The ‘Timeline’ chapter will take a deep dive into street culture history through archival photography, ephemera and fashion to contextualize the cross-pollination of influences across music, fashion and film. This chapter will also include a large wall vinyl by infamous feminist collective Guerrilla Girls – a deliberate nod to the fact that most street and graffiti artists, and indeed most well-known artists in contemporary art overall are men. BEYOND THE STREETS Publishing is pleased to announce The Rubbish Puppeteers, a comprehensive hardbound follow-up to 2019’s zine by the same name. The Rubbish Puppeteers offers an in-depth look into the artistic synergy between London’s Paul Insect and late respected Brooklyn artist BÄST.The history of graffiti in New York has been around since the 1960’s, but didn’t heavily influence New York til the late 1970’s when the new art form took a rapid spread throughout the city. This is where the history of tagging graffiti came about, during the 70’s when people began tagging their names and works of art across buildings, streets, and sidewalks. The Gallery presents curated exhibitions on themes relevant and exciting in the context of contemporary creative culture. Our educational programmes aim to reveal the possibilities of artistic expression to young minds, encourage fresh thought and stimulate innovation. In the next few weeks, we will release our own new graffiti book, Nation of Graffiti Artists, a long-awaited collection of photos and words by Chris "Freedom" Pape on a unique evolution in graffiti and street art in early 1970's NYC. An excerpt: The ‘ Dream Galleries’ chapter focuses on a selection of American and European originators, photo documentarians and cultural icons who helped contextualize and spread graffiti culture around the world. InAndré Saraiva’s Dreamseries, there is a visual articulation of how graffiti, street art, hip-hop, punk, fashion and break-dancing all sprung from the late 1970s and early 1980s into the 90s and today, and became a hybrid celebration of underground culture.