June 3rd – July 15, 2017

Curated by Laura James & Eileen Walsh, BXNYCreative

For more Information & SALES INQUIRIES 203.814.6856 [email protected]

AT BronxARTSpace 305 E. 140 St, Bronx, NY 10454

Sotero oRtiz, Hector Nazario, Wilfredo Feliciano

No discussion of Bronx art would be complete without mention of TATS CRU. Their work can be found in nearly all areas in the borough. It exemplifies the street art culture that rose up from the roots of the movement. It is both familiar and ever changing to any Bronx resident.

Beyond , the work of TATS CRU reaches all 5 boroughs of , many states in the USA, and as far away as China. “TATS CRU is the story of graffiti and street art. From subway trains to commissioned murals to worldwide street art festivals, the masterful TATS CRU represents the evolution of graffiti to the global phenomenon it is today,” states Lois Stavsky, editor of the wildly popular blog Street Art NYC. “Stylish and striking, their artwork – individually and collectively – continues to seduce viewers as it fuses elements of graffiti, illustration, graphic design and fine art.”

The Art of TATS CRU shows a representation of past projects through photographs and videos produced by Miguel Teck Arteaga. There are also works on canvas by NICER, BIO, and BG183, and a new mural collaboration reproduced as a poster to commemorate the exhibition. “We are looking at a unique rise to art world success, it’s inspirational in that it illustrates that every artist doesn’t need to follow the standard, art school, gallery system, connection-based path,” says co-curator Eileen Walsh.

In an interview with Arlene Alda for her book Just Kids from the Bronx, published in 2015, NICER explained, “A lot of people see graffiti as a crime, but considering where we come from and what we were around? A lot of friends are sitting in jail right now, doing thirty to life.” “We were doing graffiti and although it was a crime we didn’t see it as a crime, and it kind of kept us away from what was going on,” adds Bio.

Now adults, Sotero Ortiz aka “BG183,” Wilfredo Feliciano aka “BIO,” and Hector Nazario aka “NICER,” receive special invitations to show their artwork around the globe. Their story is one of overcoming adversity, banding together, and creating an art career in an entirely new way.

The exhibition began on Saturday, June 3rd, and BronxArtSpace was open for the public to view the artwork and meet TATS CRU. At that time we also had a neighborhood celebration outside the gallery on East 140th Street between 3rd Avenue and Alexander Avenue. “TATS CRU is best known for their work painting murals, so while we are presenting an exhibition inside the gallery, we also want to pay homage to the street art culture they represent. We’re celebrating 37 years of friendship, creativity and mutual respect; it’s an inspirational story, and we want to bring the celebration into the street,” explains co-curator Laura James. Over 450 people attended the event.

The Art of TATS CRU will be on view at BronxArtSpace through July 15th at 305 East 140th Street in the Bronx.

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183 COLORS OF LIFE, 2016 48” x 60” $4,500

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO 24 KARAT, 2013 36” x 48” $4,500

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO, UNTITLED, 2013, 60” x 48” | $6,500

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO HIDDEN TREASURES 2, 2013 24” x 36” $3,200

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO, FOLLOW YOUR HEART, 2017, 12” x 12” | $700

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO, PEACE AND LOVE, 2017, 12” x 12” | $600

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO UNTITLED, 2016 8” x 22” $800

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO HIDDEN TREASURES 2, 2013 24” x 36” $3,200

Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO ROAD TO PARADISE, 2013 36” x 48” $4,500 Wilfredo Feliciano aka BIO PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT, 2017 30” x 48” $4,200

Hector Nazario aka NICER HOOD CUPID 30” x 48” $2,000

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183 TIME TO GET UP, 2017 30” x 48” $1,800

TATS CRU, The Art of TATS CRU, 5’ x 12’ | POR

Hector Nazario aka NICER PIRAGUA 30” x 40” $3,500

Hector Nazario aka NICER, WOODIE (HMM), 17” x 24” | $750

Hector Nazario aka NICER, WOODIE (SPRAYCAN), 17” x 24 | $750

Hector Nazario aka NICER, GHETTO COMMUNICATION, 24” x 36” | $2,500

Hector Nazario aka NICER, DOMINOS, 24” x 36” | $3,500

Hector Nazario aka NICER TRIP TO THE SUPERMARKET 30” x 48” $3,200

Hector Nazario aka NICER DRESS UP 20” x 24” $2,500

Hector Nazario aka NICER, ROBOT SLAYER, 20” x 24” | $2,800

Hector Nazario aka NICER LIGHTS OUT 16” x 20” $3,000 Hector Nazario aka NICER 24” x 36” UNTITLED $3,500

Hector Nazario aka NICER CRU LOVE 18” x 36” NFS

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183 SMOOTH, 2016 30” x 40” $1,800

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183 4 SEASONS OF WRITING, 2016 12” x 12” $900

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183 HAVING A GOOD TIME 24” x 24” POR

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183, CITY LIFE I, II, III, 12” X 24”, 2017, $500 each SOLD

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183 4 ELEMENTS OF HIP-HOP, 2007 36” X 60” POR

Sotero Ortiz aka BG183, HIP HOP FASHION, 2010, 38” X 40” | $5,000

Hector Nazario aka NICER THE NICER CURE 40” X 60” $5,500

EXHIBITION POSTER 12” X 24” $10

Limited Edition High Quality Giclee Prints Various Sizes, Approx. 11” X 17” | Edition 25 $40 Each

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1| BG183 on the Train, LOCATION, 1983, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 2| NICER IN ENGLAND, London, England, 1985, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 3| Nosm, BG183, SEN2, How, BIO, NICER, Toronto, Canada, 2000, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 4| BIO, NICER, BG183, RIP DIL, , 1994, Photo Wise W. D. Allah 5| BG183, BIO, NICER, AIDS Mural at James Monroe HS, 1998, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 6| Blue, NICER, How, Missy Elliot, SEN2, BIO, Nick, Kenn, BIO, Nosm, Bronx Hall of Fame, 2000, Photo Wise W. D. Allah 7| BIO, Big Pun, SEN2, NICER, , BIO, Hunts Point, Bronx, 1998, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 8| How, Daze, Nosm, BIO, BG183, NICER, Painted Banner Ad from Impulse Gum, Hunts Point, 2004 9| Fat Joe – All or Nothing Album Debut Mural, Cross Bronx Expressway, Bronx, 2005, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 10| RIP Big Pun Memorial Wall, Rogers Place, South Bronx, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 11| Nelson Memorial Wall, Simpson St, Bronx, 2007, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 12| RIP Headache Memorial Wall, Bronx, 2006, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 13| 911 Memorial Wall, 207th and 10th Ave, NYC, 2001, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 14| RIP DNice Memorial Wall, Longwood, South Bronx, 2002, Photo Koe Rodriguez 15| NICER - Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106 Street and Park Ave, NYC, 2009, Photo Koe Rodriguez

16| Hunts Point Mural, Katch character, Bronx, Photo Photo Koe Rodriguez 17| Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106 Street and Park Ave, NYC, 2009, Photo Koe Rodriguez 18| NICER - Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106 Street and Park Ave, NYC, 2009, Photo Koe Rodriguez 19| BG Ghostrider - Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106 Street and Park Ave, NYC, 2009, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 20| BIO - Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106 Street and Park Ave, NYC, 2009, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 21| Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106 Street and Park Ave, NYC, 2009, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 22| Rakim, The Point CDC Rooftop, 2007, Video shoot for ‘Classic’, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 23| KRS1, Simpson St, South Bronx 2007, Video shoot for ‘Classic’, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 24| Sketch, The Point CDC Rooftop, 2007, Video shoot for ‘Classic’, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 25| Fire Hydrant – BG183, Port Morris, 2016, Commissioned by Altmark Group, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 26| Bodega – NICER, Port Morris, 2016, Commissioned by Altmark Group, Photo Courtesy of TATS CRU 27| BG183 The Mural King, Bushwick Collective, Brooklyn YEAR, Photo by Miguel Teck Arteaga 28| Air NICER, China, 2016, Photo Miguel Teck Arteaga 29| The Scientist at Work, Paris, YEAR, Photo by Miguel Teck Arteaga 30| All the Way Up in Shen Zen, Shen Zen, China, 2016, Photo by Miguel Teck Arteaga

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