Whom You Know: Graffiti Art Returns to Midtown: Antiquorum Auctioneers to Exhibit Works by World-Renowned Graffiti Artist John CRASH Matos

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Graffiti Art Returns to Midtown: Antiquorum Auctioneers to Exhibit Works by World-Renowned Graffiti Artist John CRASH Matos

Antiquorum is proud to announce it will host “CRASH: Back on the Block,” an exhibit of new works by celebrated graffiti artist and avid watch collector John CRASH Matos. The show will be held September 13 through October 6 at Antiquorum’s Gallery space on 57th Street and Madison Avenue in New York City and will feature approximately 12 new large-scale works, as well as a “pop-up shop” of watches for sale by Antiquorum.

For the first time since he famously painted English guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Clapton’s five guitars, one of which sold at auction for over $321,000 in 2004, CRASH will hand paint another special object — this time, a Patek Philippe clock. “I’ll be using pop-inspired colors to paint the clock, something a little ‘street’, but keeping some of the refined elements intact,” said CRASH. The proceeds will be donated to the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA).

“We are thrilled to host CRASH’s exhibition in Antiquorum’s Gallery,” said Evan Zimmermann, President & CEO, Antiquorum. “It is an exciting collaboration between two symbiotic disciplines — art and watch collecting — both of them rooted in creativity and innovation and which share a unique and personal connection with collectors.”

In conjunction with this exceptional event, Antiquorum will host a “pop-up shop,” featuring a selection of fine and rare vintage watches, contemporary wristwatches and small clocks for sale throughout the exhibition. The items will be carefully curated and selected by Antiquorum’s renowned experts and include offerings from luxury brands such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier and Rolex, according to Michael Friedman, Horological Director of Antiquorum. Friedman, who has collaborated with CRASH on numerous projects in the past, partnered with him on the idea to host the exhibition at Antiquorum's Gallery.

The show’s name references the heyday of the New York Art Scene when it had a large presence in midtown before shifting to Chelsea in the 1980s, according to CRASH. Today, he is one of the more successful, underground and respected figures of the movement and is thrilled to return to the same block that gave graffiti art its start almost 30 years ago. With a show that gives a nod to his roots while showcasing his artistic growth and maturity, one could say it is a return that has been subconsciously planned — almost 30 years in the making.

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About John CRASH Matos: Born John Matos in 1961, CRASH was raised in the Bronx, New York. He adopted his nickname after accidentally crashing a computer in school, and CRASH began appearing on trains circulating all throughout New York City. In his freshman year of high school, CRASH spray painted subway cars and took photos of his graffiti art from the street and transferred them to large-scale canvases. In 1980, he curated the ground-breaking “Graffiti Art Success for America” at Fashion MODA, launching the graffiti movement that remains popular through today. By 1983, he was offered his first gallery show at the Sidney Janis Gallery, which eventually led to many other shows and global recognition. His works have been exhibited all over the world and can be found in many permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

About Antiquorum: Established in Geneva in 1974, Antiquorum has carved its own unparalleled niche in the auction world through its focused expertise in horology and by cultivating a thriving collector’s market for timepieces worldwide. The world’s premier auctioneer of fine modern and vintage timepieces has set world records for auction sales and holds approximately ten auctions a year in Geneva, New York and Hong Kong, with previews held in major cities worldwide. Antiquorum maintains offices in Beijing, London, Milan, Munich, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo.

For more details about the exhibit or Antiquorum, please email mhalpern@antiquorum.com or call (212) 750 -1103.

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