SJK 171

SJK 171, aka Steve the Greek (born c.1957) is a New York City graffiti artist who was active during the late 1960s and 1970s.[2] A native of Washington Heights, he was a founding member of United Graffiti Artists, one of the first professional graffiti collectives.[3]

SJK 171
SJK 171 (Steve Kesoglides) in the early 1970s
Born
Steve Kesoglides

c.1957[1]
Washington Heights, New York City
NationalityAmerican
Known forPublic art
Graffiti
Painting
Street art
Websitesjk171.net

History

SJK 171 attended the High School of Art and Design along with a number of other early graffiti artists,[4] including Tracy 168 and Al Diaz, co-creator of SAMO, and began writing in 1968 under the name SJK 171. His work was the first triple outline, large colorful letters to appear on the 1 Line of the New York City Transit System. Some sources have recognized him as a graffiti pioneer[5][6] and also for originating the "squiggly lines" style of outlining graffiti.[7]

In early 1971, he began to use the "swiggly radiant energy lines" later popularized by Keith Haring.[7] SJK 171 is also credited with pioneering the use of arrows in graffiti writing around this same time.[7] In 1972, he was hired by the Joffrey Ballet to paint his designs, live, in the stage production of Twyla Tharp's ballet Deuce Coupe, along with other graffiti artists, including Stay High 149.[8]

In 1973, SJK 171 was featured in a New York Magazine essay on graffiti art by Richard Goldstein.[9]

1973: A collaborative mural bearing SJK 171's tag, along with those of PHASE 2 and a dozen other early graffiti artists, was the main attraction at a gallery show of graffiti art at Razor Gallery in SoHo.[10] SJK 171 was also one of several graffiti writers featured in the backdrop design for the Joffery Ballet's production of Deuce Coupe.[11]

2014: SJK 171's work is included in the permanent collection of The Museum of the City of New York.[12]

2018-2019: SJK 171 was included in "Beyond the Streets", a street art exhibition displayed in Los Angeles and New York.[5][6]

References
  1. "Graffiti". Democrat and Chronicle. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. "Street Art Originals Cornbread, Shepard Fairey and More on Graffiti's Radical Change". Observer. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  3. Riefe, Jordan (June 21, 2018). ""Beyond The Streets" Harkens To Graffiti's Roots In Diversity". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  4. Diaz, Al (2018). SAMO©...SINCE 1978: SAMO©...Writings: 1978-2018. Irie Books. p. 201. ISBN 978-1515417194.
  5. Thomas, Sean P. "Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse". Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  6. Barry Samaha & Chloe Kantor (June 21, 2019). "From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists". Surface. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  7. Gastman, Roger (2015). Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence (1st ed.). Berkeley, California: Gingko Press Inc. p. 121,122, 137,141,142. ISBN 978-1-58423-601-6.
  8. Siegel, Marcia (2020). Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance (1st ed.). University Press of Florida. p. 77. ISBN 9780813068145.
  9. Goldstein, Richard (26 March 1973). "This Thing Has Gotten Completely Out Of Hand". New York Magazine. New York City.
  10. Schjeldahl, Peter (September 16, 1973). "Graffiti Goes Legit—But the 'Show‐Off Ebullience' Remains". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  11. Siegel, Marcia B. (2007-04-01). Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance. Macmillan. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-4299-0877-1.
  12. Corcoran, Sean; McCormick, Carlo (2013). City as canvas : New York City graffiti from the Martin Wong collection. Wong, Martin,, Corcoran, Sean, 1974-, McCormick, Carlo,, Museum of the City of New York. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-8478-3986-5. OCLC 857194047.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Further reading
  • Chandès, Hervé. Born in the Streets, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, 2006, ISBN 978-0-500-97695-1.
  • Gastman, Roger. The History of American Graffiti, HarperCollins, 2011, ISBN 978-0-06-169878-1.
  • Deitch, Jeffrey. Art in The Streets, Rizzoli International Publications, 2011, ISBN 978-0-8478-3648-2.
  • Gastman, Roger. Wall Writers: Graffiti in Its Innocence, Gingko Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1584236016.
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