BORN TO RUN – NYC Graffiti on the IND and BMT Lines

The global image of New York subway graffiti is mainly influenced by the 1984 SUBWAY ART classic. But since the book mostly documents graffiti on the IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) lines, the pieces which got painted on other subway systems has never really been spotlighted. In BORN TO RUN graffiti writer and train photographer Tod Lange for the first time ever presents content exclusively from the IND (Independent) and BMT (Brooklyn Manhattan Transit) lines.

“Many of us are familiar with IRT legends Let’s take our hats off and give these unsung artists some much-deserved accolades.”

He compiled shots from his own archive and seven other photographers on more than 200 pages. The publication shows the surrounding of the trains running through New York and this way also documents the city’s history in brilliant photographs. Most of the time there are only two photos on a spread for the viewer to enjoy all the details shown in large scale.

“This is not a Who’s Who of graffiti writers. […] The intent of this volume is to preserve these forgotten lines, while shedding some light on the writers who painted them. I have attempted to present an unbiased look into a chapter of history that is rarely explored.”

The portrait format hardcover includes more than 200 high quality photographs separated in five chronological main chapters which cover a time span from 1972 to 1988. Seemingly none of the printed photos has been shown before so the content consists of mainly exclusive shots.

BORN TO RUN opens with a foreword by LEE Quiñones and features works from STAY HIGH149, FDT56, SUPER STRUT, COCO144, SAVAGE, FLINT707, PISTOL, DIZZY, SPIN, PIPER, A’TRAIN, VAMM, AJAX, CRACHEE, VINNY, P.NUT, BOT707, IN, LEE, MONO, TRACY168, IZ THE WIZ, JEE2, DEATH, NOC, DONDI, QUIK, FUZZ, SACH, REVOLT, DELTA2, MIN, SMITH, SANE, ZIM, CAP, PJAY, WOLF, SAINT, GHOST, SENTO, MAGOO, TEKAY, CAV, VEN, DUEL, KNOW, REAS, TRAP, and many others.

208 pages, 28,5 x 22,3 cm, hardcover
Language: English
Release date: 2019
Authors: Tod Lange, LEE Quiñones
ISBN: 978-0-7643-5642-1
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing