Signed; Blade - King of Kings - 2009

Hardcover book, published by Henk Pijnenburg in 2009 featuring many works by this legendary New York graffiti artist.

Very rare book; signed copies are virtually impossible to find.

The book is in mint condition.

BLADE (pseudonym of Steven Ogburn, 1957) is regarded as one of the absolute icons of the New York graffiti scene. Often described as the “King of Graffiti,” he brought to life more than 5,000 subway stations and train cars between the early 1970s and the mid-1980s with his distinctive, playful lettering styles and colorful cartoon characters.

Growing up in the Bronx, BLADE stepped into the world of subway graffiti at the age of thirteen. His work stood out for technical mastery and humor, but also for innovation: he was one of the first artists to transform whole train cars into cohesive, graphically strong compositions. In a time when graffiti was still dismissed as vandalism, BLADE developed a recognizable visual language that earned him a central position in the New York subculture.

From the 1980s onward, he made the transition to canvas, retaining his dynamic style while refining it for gallery and museum contexts. His works have since been exhibited worldwide and are part of international collections.

BLADE remains an influential figure within the urban-art movement: a pioneer who translated the raw energy of the subways into timeless artworks, thereby building a lasting bridge between street culture and the established art world.