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Elder Statesman of Street Art Still Hops Freight Trains
9 Nov
Summary
- Artist Barry McGee installed his exhibition in Los Angeles.
- He created graffiti art on train cars during his road trip.
- McGee maintains credibility across generations in the art world.
Barry McGee, a highly respected figure in street art, continues to engage with his graffiti roots. As a 60-year-old artist, he recently traveled to Los Angeles to install his exhibition, "Another Round." On his journey, McGee made a point to stop in train yards, using white crayon to write invented graffiti monikers on freight cars, echoing the historical practice of hobo graffiti.
McGee, who started as a graffiti writer in San Francisco in the early 1980s under the pseudonym Twist, later found success exhibiting his paintings and drawings under his own name. His work often features tessellated grids, fictional business signs, and distinctive paintings of older, weary figures he calls "geezers."
Despite his blue-chip gallery exhibitions and corporate collaborations with brands like Meta and Adidas, McGee retains credibility with younger generations. His current exhibition includes works by artists decades his junior, reflecting his enduring influence and connection to the evolving street art scene.
