Futura: Full Frame is a book by Magda Danysz, Vittorio Parisi, and Futura 2000 that explores the life of legendary graffiti artist Futura, aka Lenny McGurr, from the 1980s until today, including decades of backstage images of the artist and his artworks.
Catherine Carrié, who photographed Futura and his family over the course of 35 years, is now sharing those images to illustrate the life and art of one of the greatest living street artists.
“I guess I must admire the need to set things on fire”: this quote, lifted from Futura’s collaboration with punk band The Clash, clearly illustrates his approach to his creative career as a whole. The so-called father of abstract graffiti started out in the 1970s “bombing” the trains of his hometown New York. He later transferred this style into paintings on canvas and was praised by the likes of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. With them, FUTURA has been a major influencer of youth culture through his collaborations with iconic brands like NIKE, Levi’s, Vans, Hennessey, Medicom Toys as well as with his own brand Futura Laboratories. For the past 40 years, he has continually been pushing the boundaries of street art.
“As an abstract graffiti artist, Futura opened doors to a new form of creativity, paving the road for the most important art movement of the century to blossom. His contribution and the way he inspired generations of street artists turned him into an American legend, who’s very much alive and whose family spirit and values have never changed, making him one of the most gracious artist to work with”, adds gallery owner Magda Danysz, who first met Futura in 1991 during her teenage years, and has since written numerous texts about his art.
The book includes 300 intimate photos and 200 artworks from 1980 to 2018.|“As an abstract graffiti artist, Futura opened the door to a new form of creativity, paving the road for the most important art movement of the century to blossom. His contribution and the way he inspired then generations of street artists turned him into an American legend.” Madga Danysz.
Magda Danysz just unveiled a new monograph spotlighting most-iconic graffiti artist Futura. Entitled Futura 2000 Full Frame, the expansive book chronicles the prolific career of the artist from the 1980s until today. Highlights include behind-the-scenes photos of Futura and his artworks as well as images of collaborations with major brands such as Nike, Levi’s, Vans, Hennessy, Medicom Toy, and more. “Futura was one of those artists – and they were very, very rare – who had the original style to evolve beyond graffiti,” said Charlie Ahearn. (Hypebeast)
As Futura enters fully into the frame of a contemporary artist, it’s important for upcoming artists to remember that his success didn’t happen overnight. He also had a family to support, and his numerous jobs included working as a bike messenger on Manhattan’s untamed streets. “Full Frame” reveals the nascent stages of Futura’s art and the elements of his birthplace New York city, which inspired it. Futura 2000 is the self-named moniker created by Lenny Gurr, whose career started in the early 80s; his work continues to evolve, evoking the futuristic element of his chosen name. “I feel like a lot of what is being revealed about my work hasn’t really been seen,” Futura says as he describes the nearly 300 page tome, with a vivid yellow cover, “Full Frame,” published by Drago and organized by Magda Danysz. Among the richly illustrated pages, Danysz presents important benchmarks in Futura’s steadily growing career and personal life that bring the evolution closer to the reader. In terms of the visual language in these sketches, diagrams and canvasses, there are a wealth of orbs and symbols that take the viewer on both stellar and interstellar journeys. Evolution appears to be natural for Futura: his work reveals a raw energy that is a firing of synapses that push deep into his imaginary worlds. Futura’s influences are an eclectic mix of expressionist and abstract art; punk; the race to the moon; and the urban counterculture movement. His recurring circle motifs are as much about his internal mind and world as they are about the cosmos. A sense of balance in the chaos is always present, the palette choices impeccably on point, sharply sweet and frequently daring. Is this fantasy or diary? If Futura hasn’t traveled to most of these places, it’s not because he hasn’t tried. But we’re treating these pages and frames of eye-popping, other-worlds as evidence that he has. “I think for the most part people appreciate survivors,” he is quoted in the book. Few survivors could be so freely percolating with ideas and graceful in their delivery. – brooklynstreetart.com (Brooklin Street Art)