SJK 171

Biography

SJK 171 (Graffiti Artist) (aka Steve the Greek) is one of the earliest New York City graffiti artists of the late 1960's and 1970's. He is generally credited with originating the "swiggly lines", a style of outlining graffiti. He was also know as "King of the A-Trains", meaning his graffiti dominated the A-Line of the NYC transit system. Later, he was one of the founding members of the United Graffiti Artists.

SJK 171 and Taki 183 the 2 earliest graffiti artist are both of Greek heritage. He began writing in 1969 under the name SJK 171 with Mike 171. SJK 171 attended High School of Art and Design along with a number of other early graffiti artists.

It was in early 1971 that SJK 171 was the first to use the "swiggly lines" that 10 years later were used by Keith Haring. SJK 171 is also credited with pioneering the use of arrows in graffiti writing around this same time.

Public attention

In 1972, SJK 171 as one of the founding members of United Graffiti Artists, a professional graffiti collective which began to attract media attention. He was featured in an important essay on graffiti art by Richard Goldstein which appeared in New York Magazine and inspired a new generation of graffiti artists.

The University of Chicago The Renaissance Society displayed the United Graffiti Artists Collaborative No. 1, 1972 the first Spray enamel on canvas 24” x 36”.

See also

• Graffiti
• Keith Haring
• United Graffiti Artists

References

SJK 171 was also featured in the book by Craig Castleman called Getting Up

SJK 171 was featured in a book written by Sasha Anawalt The Joffrey Ballet

SJK 171 was featured in a book written by By Marcia B. Siegel Howling Near Heaven

SJK 171 was featured of University of Michigan's Print collectors newsletter

External links

• New York Magazine

• Renaissance Society

• team183

• subwayoutlaws.com

• wildstylers.com

• jayquan.com

• at 149

• six