Phase 2

Why this artist matters now

Phase 2 was an American graffiti writer whose stylized tag and elaborate letter forms became foundational to the visual language of New York subway graffiti from the 1970s onward. Working primarily in spray paint on train cars and station walls, he developed a distinctive approach to wildstyle lettering that influenced generations of writers. His work emerged during the formative years of graffiti as a recognized artistic practice and remains a central reference point in postwar urban visual culture.

Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 26d ago