Richie Mirando, known as "Seen" was born in the Bronx, NYC in 1961. He is one of the most respected graffiti artists in the world and is often referred to as to as the "Godfather of graffiti".
Seen first started to paint on the New York City Subway system in 1973 as part of the United Artists (UA) crew, alongside Duster, Sin and Mad. UA painted across the city, and Seen’s vibrant lettering and masterful depictions of mass-media cartoon characters created some of the most iconic images of the time.
During the early 1980s, Seen started producing work on canvas and in 1983 was featured in the seminal graffiti and hip hop documentary "Style Wars" produced by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant. His work is also published in numerous acclaimed books including "Subway Art" by Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant, and "American Graffiti" by Margo Thompson.
Over the course of the decade he exhibited alongside Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat though would always return to the subways and urban environment.
In the late 1980s Seen founded opening Tattoo Seen; a tattoo parlour which became one of the most successful studios in New York City as his paintings continued to be acquired by museums and private collectors. His work has been exhibited internationally including Magda Danysz Gallery, Paris, Grand Palais, Paris, Fondation Cartier, Paris, Power House Arena, New York, Stolen Space Gallery in London, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen and The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. |