DUO (1981) - Purple D

Original and unique artwork on a linen canvas.
Signature on the back, supplied with an authenticity certificate.


DUO, born in 1981, is a Parisian artist whose early encounter with graffiti dates back to 1991, when he discovered, in his own neighborhood, an intervention by DARCO (FBI), a major figure in European graffiti. This appearance, a true visual shock, marked the beginning of his vocation.

Since 1998, DUO has fully immersed himself in the world of writing, developing a self-taught practice fueled by more than two decades of intensive lettering exploration. His work is rooted in the purest tradition of graffiti, in constant dialogue with the codes established by pioneering artists from New York and Europe. His travels across Europe and beyond, undertaken to paint in various urban environments and transportation networks, profoundly enrich his style and expand his visual vocabulary.

His aesthetic has long been characterized by an attachment to the classical style, notably influenced by scenes from New York and Berlin. These graffiti train experiences, meetings, and travels gradually build a graphic signature that is both rigorous and energetic.

Alongside this journey, DUO saw its works enter the art market from the early 2010s. It participated in several auctions, including a first notable sale at Pierre Bergé & Associés in 2013, demonstrating the growing interest of collectors in its work.

Today, DUO develops a more experimental and abstract-oriented canvas production, while maintaining the same gestural intensity and search for movement that characterized their interventions in the urban space. Their now more introspective painting extends and transforms the raw energy of graffiti into a contemporary visual language.