.png)
Graffiti's-T-Art Exhibit is Bronx Writing History at The Hip Hop Museum's Culture Lab
- Damian Ali
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
A new exhibit connects the origins of Bronx graffiti to today’s Hip Hop generation.
The Hip Hop Museum and The Bronx County Historical Society Graffiti’s-T-Art, a pop-up exhibit: Image Courtesy of BCHS
The Hip Hop Museum and The Bronx County Historical Society are joining forces to present Graffiti’s-T-Art, a pop-up exhibit celebrating the roots of graffiti culture in the Bronx. The show opens Friday, Nov. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Culture Lab (658 Exterior Street) and features original works by AJ 161, SKEME, Starkim, Mayan, and others. The exhibit is curated by STAFF 161, founder of The Ebony Dukes, one of the first organized graffiti crews to emerge from the Bronx subway scene in 1970.
Due to limited space, opening night is by invitation only, but the exhibit will be open to the public from Nov. 9 through Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For STAFF 161 and his generation of writers, graffiti wasn’t just paint on walls; it was a form of identity. Born in the Fort Apache section of the South Bronx, The Ebony Dukes (also known as T.E.D. Inc.) helped define what would later be recognized as hip-hop’s visual language. They pieced together colorful, intricate designs on subway cars at a time when the city felt abandoned. The goal was simple: get your name up and let the city know you existed.
By the early 1970s, that movement had taken over train lines and tunnels. Writers like STAFF 161, SUPER SLICK 156, and ALL JIVE 161 (Adam 12) helped build a citywide network that reached as far as Queens, Yonkers, and Connecticut. Their work turned everyday commutes into rolling art galleries for the youth of the city and inspired countless others to pick up a can.
--
Lehman Center turns back time to the Palladium Ballroom, where Tito Puente, Tito Rodríguez, and Machito filled New York with the sound of the Mambo. This November, The Three Kings & Their Queens Honors Latin Music Legends.
--
Image Courtesy of BCHS
Many of those early ideas were born on the Writers’ Bench at 149th Street and Grand Concourse, a legendary meeting spot where young artists traded sketches, shared techniques, and passed down unwritten rules of style and respect. That bench became an outdoor classroom and a cornerstone of Bronx art history.
Today, Graffiti’s-T-Art brings that story full circle. Presented inside The Culture Lab, a pop-up space for The Hip Hop Museum, the exhibit connects the past and future of a culture that began underground and now fills museums worldwide. The Hip Hop Museum itself is set to open its permanent 52,000-square-foot home at Bronx Point in 2026, continuing the borough’s tradition of turning creativity into community.
For longtime residents and new fans alike, this exhibit offers a chance to see Bronx history in living color, a reminder that the city’s first graffiti crews didn’t just change walls; they changed art forever.
Follow:
More about The Ebony Dukes
BCHS: Events and Exhibits
The Bronx Hip-Hop Museum
BCHS Instagram @bronxhistorian
BCHS YouTube @bronxhistorian
THHM on Instagram @thhmuseum
THHM YouTube @THHMuseum
Stay Tuned — Subscribe below for more updates and sneak peeks! From TV shows and movie premieres to stories from the vibrant culture of The Bronx, TalkTeaV has you covered. Don’t forget to join the conversation on social media — links below!
Comments