Böcker av Al Diaz

NY City of Kings chronicles the history of graffiti's genesis in New York from its late 1960s origin to the present, as seen through the lens of writers who started the movement. This narrative intends to help elucidate how the unprecedented movement of NYC graffiti culture spread internationally, and how graffiti has become so lodged and influential within our present popular culture. The accompanying exhibit installation features a monumental walk-through timeline covering the rich, complex history of New York graffiti history, including hundreds of famous and obscure images, lore and facts from 1967 to the present."What makes this exhibit different is that the narrative is told through the lens, and voice of the actual players who created graffiti, not observers, gallerists, art historians, collectors or academics. New York City graffiti artists have historically been underrepresented and our narrative has been misinterpreted or skewed. An accessible, concise account for the general public has been overdue. As a lifelong, committed member of the graffiti and art communities, I feel compelled to share this story, and I am proud to have an opportunity to tell it." - Al Díaz, NYC (August 2022)

On August 27, 2009, Al's life was forever changed when during an operation, he popped out of his body and was escorted by an angel out of this world and into the next. Jesus gave Al the choice to stay in heaven or to return to earth with a mandate from the Lord. Upon his return, Al, together with his wife, Rosemary, began the ministry, Heaven Bound But Not Yet. Al says, "It is the desire of my heart to reach as many people as I can, to tell them about Jesus and about the glory of heaven that awaits them."

Al Díaz and Jean-Michel Basquiat stoked public intrigue in 1978 as teenagers when they began tagging their SAMO©… writings throughout New York City.The statements spoke to people, spoke about people, and sometimes spoke of nothing at all. What began as a cynical, yet clever joke among friends-eventually became a creative cornerstone for both artists-and a hallmark of NYC art historical accounts.Everyone around town was asking,"Who is SAMO?" Basquiat's path was well laid when the pair gave up their anonymity to the Village Voice in December 1978, in exchange for $100. The ball was rolling. Within two years Basquiat would be a famous painter, abruptly leaving behind Díaz and street writings for the blue chip gallery circuit. Díaz became a regular player in the NYC music scene. SAMO©… was dead. Ten years after that, Basquiat was also dead. But today, Albert Díaz is very much alive.