Full Frame: Futura 2000

(Paperback)

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Futura: Full Frame is a book by Magda Danysz exploring the life of legendary graffiti artist Futura, aka Lenny Mc Gurr, from the 1980s until today, including backstage images of the artist at work through the decades and his artworks. "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. This book is the first ever to bring together the fruits of his extraordinary creativity in one place. With a rich collection of photographs, this coffee table book will present Futura's work from his early beginnings to his current work, making it of interest not just for fans of his work but also for book lovers looking for a high-quality item. "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 AUTHOR: Magda Danysz opened her first art space in 1991 when she was 17. After graduating in 1998, she opened her gallery in July of that same year in a brand new space. She curated projects in her gallery with artists from various disciplines, from street art to digital art. SELLING POINTS: . Explores the life of legendary graffiti artist Futura, aka Lenny McGurr, from the 1980s until today, including backstage images of the artist at work through the decades and his artworks . The first dedicated celebration of Futura's work, gathering his graffiti in a single volume . Presents Futura's work from his early beginnings to his current pieces 252 colour images

Reviews

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
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

Author Bio

Magda Danysz opened her first art space in 1991 when she was 17. After graduating in 1998, she opened her gallery in July of that same year in a brand new space. She curated projects in her gallery with artists from various disciplines, from street art to digital art. She brought Shepard Fairey to the French scene in the early 2000s (who did Barack Obama's official portrait for the presidential campaign), works with icons such as JonOne (since 1992), and exhibits and promotes artists including Seen, Miss Van, Erwin Olaf, JR, Prune Nourry, Vhils and Ultralab. She participates in many art fairs around the world - from Paris, Bologna and Brussels to New York, and even Miami. In June 2009 she was appointed to direct the Bund 18 gallery in Shanghai, China, which then became the Magda Danysz Gallery. She published an extensive anthology of street art. In 2015 she expanded her gallery business in London with her iconic pop-up space called The London Project. Since 2001 Danysz has taught cultural policies and economics at Sciences Po in Paris. She was a founder of the Paris-based contemporary art fair known as ShowOff, which has been held every year at the same time as the Foire internationale d'art contemporain (Fiac) since 2006. Since January 2009 she has been vice president of Fashion Group International of Paris. In 2010, she helped launch the Ai Ling Foundation for the arts in Shanghai, China.