About
Cey Adams (American, b. ), New York City native and visionary artist, emerged from the downtown graffiti movement in the 80’s alongside fellow artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Adams began his art career while still in his teens, tagging &#;Cey City&#; on subway cars and painting graffiti murals to showcase his artwork.
At 19, Adams was represented by Graffiti Above Ground gallery in lower Manhattan, the first gallery to represent prominent graffiti artists. Adams was immersed in the downtown art and music scene. During this time he met the Beastie Boys. He developed a fast friendship with the band and designed their first logo, t-shirts and singles. The Beastie Boys and Adams would go on to be longtime collaborators including designing their album &#;Hello Nasty&#;.
Around the same time he met manager/music producer Russell Simmons at RUSH Artist Management, where Adams designed logos and merch for the artist roster including Kurtis Blow, Whodini, and Jimmy Spicer. A few years later Simmons along with music producer Rick Rubin founded Def Jam Recordings. It is where Adams had the opportunity to showcase everything he learned up to this point.
Adams served
&#;It was just such a wonderful time&#;: Artist Cey Adams and the visual language of hip-hop
By Brian Braiker
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It is no hyperbole to say that if anyone had a leading role in defining the visual culture of hip-hop it was Cey Adams. The early days of Run-D.M.C.? Cey Adams was there. The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Slick Rick? Cey Adams designed some of their most iconic album covers. Public Enemy, Biggie, DMX, Jay-Z? Them too. Usher, Mary J. Blige? Cey Adams was there.
Born and raised in New York City and currently based in Brooklyn, Adams emerged from the vibrant graffiti scene of the s while still in his teens, tagging “Cey City” on subway cars and painting murals — and was one of the first wave of street artists to obtain gallery representation. He met the Beastie Boys before they were the Beastie Boys, and designed their first logo, t-shirts and singles. He linked up with Russell Simmons at Rush Artist Management where he designed logos and merch for an artist roster that included Run-D.M.C., Big Daddy Kane, K
From NYC Streets to Artistic Triumph: A Conversation with Cey Adams, Graffiti Pioneer
In the vibrant era of New York City's 70s and 80s, a unique art movement emerged from the concrete jungle, birthing icons like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Cey Adams. We had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the pivotal figure in the downtown graffiti scene to discuss his journey from the streets to artistic prominence.
Q: You grew up in New York in the 80s and became a part of the downtown graffiti movement, alongside fellow artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. What inspired you to take your art to the streets?
Cey: WOW! When I think back to growing up in New York City during the 70’s & 80’s…I recall the city being a much tougher and colder place, particularly for young kids like myself. I know this sounds harsh but…It felt like we had zero opportunities, No community programs. NOTHING! Local city officials turned their backs on us! Writing graffiti on the subways was a creative outlet of sorts…a way to get my name, my art and my message out to the public.
Q: Did you have a message you were hoping to convey i
Stars like Jay-Z, Run DMC, and The Notorious B.I.G. don&#;t just appear overnight. It takes a village, and a very talented village at that, to create personas of such magnitude. Many of these backstage figures have been there from the beginning, helping to craft aura, style—that special something—that propels someone from person icon. Artist Cey Adams is situated squarely at the center of those three hip-hop legends, among many others. Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and Maroon 5 are a few more of the big names Adams has had a hand in molding during his four-decade career, in which he served as the founding Creative Director for Def Jam Recordings, giving visual life to the hip-hop movement through visual identities, album covers, logos, and advertising campaigns.
To honor Adams&#;s legacy and impact and to chart his journey to stardom, Dania Beach&#;s Mad Arts is currently hosting a retrospective of his work entitled &#;CEY ADAMS, DEPARTURE: 40 Years of Art and Design.&#; The show contains over 60 of Adams&#;s designs in various media, including photography archives, mixed media collage, paintings, textile, fashion, street art, contemporary fine art, and more.
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