Graffiti and street art, a lifelong photo quest | Martha Cooper | TEDxVienna

Photography has long been intertwined with exploration. Whether to the North Pole or the moon, no expedition would be complete without cameras. Since 1978 Martha has been photographing the biggest art movement in the history of the world - graffiti.
More information on www.tedxvienna.at
Martha Cooper is a documentary photographer who has shot urban art since 1978. Her early photos of NYC subway graffiti are credited by today's street artists as having been instrumental in spreading the movement worldwide.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@pradaman00]

The woman is a pioneer, good to see platforms like this recognizing her impact on the culture

[@angeloaugustus1016]

you prolly dont give a damn but does someone know of a trick to get back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot my password. I would love any assistance you can give me

[@zechariahfelipe5909]

@Angelo Augustus instablaster ;)

[@jarvisbelmont6804]

MARTHA.....thank you for the SUBWAY ART BOOK......the gateway for art masters..

[@Empyronaut]

This woman....she did so much for so many....she changed the look of the world by her work. Thank you, Queen Cooper. May you walk among us forever.

[@delta_graffiti8317]

Ye

[@eblany1203]

ye

[@mouija1450]

I started painting in 1995, but I happened upon a copy of Subway art in 1993. It literally set a new trajectory for my life. I'd seen graffiti tags everywhere as a street skater, and even way back in the early 80's taking the train from Hartford into Brooklyn with my folks to mail packages to Poland. I think Subway Art was the first time I got an inside look at graffiti, understood that the kids in the book were just like me, with the photos of them crowded in a bedroom drawing together, and decided to try my hand at making some art of my own. I really think that Subway Art and Spraycan Art made a massive contribution to graffiti culture. Pre-internet, it was like a holy text for budding writers to absorb and see the best styles, and also to learn the logistics of how to paint well.

[@rodizlike9871]

Thats awesome man. I came up in graffiti pretty the sameway and around the sametime. Those books changed my trajectory too. I started just writing graffiti tagging in my neighborhood then when I discovered these books everything changed. That was 26 years ago and I haven't stopped. Shoutout to Henry and Martha and all the pioneers of graffiti. Without them I don't know what kinda life Id be living coming from the ghetto. 🙌🙌🙌💫💯

[@jarvisbelmont6804]

MARTHA.....chicago praises you....thank you for your hard work.....Martha do a special on breakdancing photos.....breakin in the OLYMPICS in 2024.......go martha cooper.....

[@canadianfloormasters]

I have so much respect for this woman.

[@2susjus]

Thank you Martha Cooper for shedding so much light on a creative culture 💜 God bless you

[@Aworology333]

The legendary Martha Cooper. Love her.

[@palmspringsartist]

She’s the only reason you got my view for this video! Respect to Martha Cooper🙌🏼

[@jarvisbelmont6804]

MARTHA and Henry......did so much for GRAFF art.......thanks....

[@swine13]

I dont watch many educational videos, but when i do, its about stuff i did instead of learning

[@frogskta5450]

Wow she met Dondi rip ..dope!

[@jarvisbelmont6804]

SHE met every graff artist......she is a GREAT GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER......

[@sektion12.]

Listened to this while sketching in my blackbook. Very interesting to hear how she started her career, and how it's been going.

[@jarvisbelmont6804]

Look up.....Wizards the movie......1977..ALOT of graff artists loved that movie......Chicago...

[@sektion12.]

@@jarvisbelmont6804 What is it about?

[@tminusnyc2915]

ICON.

[@Midland_Wolf_71]

Living legend, a proper trailblazer. Big up Martha!!!!!!

[@jarvisbelmont6804]

beyond a LEGEND.....martha changed the brain wiring....of youth to become ARTISTIC...

[@eggsarantaduo]

legend!

[@jwc3o2]

unfortunate that this series is formatted for short attention spans: 15 minutes gives her no opportunity whatsoever to momentarily explore any of the insights gleaned over the course of her close to 4o YEARS of paying attention. example: intriguing is the fact that it took Thames + Hudson in England to publish her first collection of photographs of New York graffiti, they being one of the very few larger publishers to also issue books related to concrete & visual poetry (such as Tom Phillip's "A Humument" & the recent Marvin & Ruth Sackner anthology "The Art Of Typewriting"), which is arguably a related genre. still, good to hear her & see how she chose to try to deal with the time(col)lapse.

[@liamcopich9239]

ty for this comment, i thought the same thing. feels like she has so much more she wants to share

[@ScottCraft13]

The Queen

[@thearki-vist6050]

She was🇿🇦Capetown

[@Hborn]

Her shirt is fly

[@gugster3080]

7:00 not to forget seen too!

[@Hamzakhan-dt3gv]

Interesting video

[@martinfoy9327]

DMYZ WUZ HERE

[@brandon400]

por qué no hay subtítulos ?😭😭

[@TheMsPants]

There are English subtitles :)

[@somadood]

[@holeymattress8128]

Some graffiti artists refer to her as a "culture vulture."

[@bigfriz7289]

culture vulture, lol... She is the grandmother of Graffiti. Without her it would never have grown and evolved to what it is today FACTS we would not have our Kings now gods.

[@snagglepuss1st]

No, no they dont!

[@holeymattress8128]

@@bigfriz7289 She built a career on the backs of artist from the ghetto hard work and creativity, and profited off it. How many residuals did the the artists in subway art make. ZERO.

[@holeymattress8128]

@@snagglepuss1st Ummm Yes they do!

[@coreystrong636]

@@holeymattress8128 real writers don't care about the money so she is entitled to make as much as she wants doing her thang. She makes money off more than graffiti anyway.