GRAFFITI SKIRT

Spray paint, marker pen and ink on a leather skirt. Painted circa 1981 for Joy "Joystick" Bouldin. Authentic hand painted clothing from the early days of hip hop are exceptionally rare. Cey Adams was a NYC subway writer in the late 70s and early 80s. He appeared in the historic PBS documentary "Style Wars" and studied at New York's School of Visual Arts. He emerged from train writing and was early into the gallery scene, exhibiting alongside Jean Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Cey was the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings and worked with hip hop artists such as Run DMC, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z.

Provenance: Joy "Joystick" Bouldin was a key figure in the New York club scene of the early 1980s. Aged 18, she arrived in New York and, eschewing her plans to go to college, found work at the Mudd Club. Here she was befriended by Andy Warhol, who introduced her to his inner circle, including Jean-Michel Basquiat (for whom she modelled) and Keith Haring. In 1982 she quit her job in a law firm to "work the elevator" at Danceteria. Deciding who to let in to the private club gave her a key position at the forefront of the emerging culture of the time, positioned at the intersection between fashion, Pop Art, Hip Hop and graffiti. Like key door-people everywhere, Joy knew everyone and everyone knew her. She came up with the idea of having the best known and most applauded graffiti writers, pop artists and musicians tag or draw on her clothing as they came in and out of the club. In doing so she created a wearable original artwork merging fashion, art and music that now also serves as a significant historical document. In true graffiti spirit, the writers wanted to be seen and learning of Joy's legendary art coats were keen to have their name displayed at the hottest club in town. As a result Joy was gifted items of hand-painted clothing in the hope she would wear them out. This skirt by Cey was once such item that she loved and wore regularly.