Richard “SEEN” Mirando was born October 17, 1961, in the Bronx, New York. “SEEN” is one of the most well-known graffiti artists in the world. He is often referred to as The Godfather of Graffiti. “SEEN” first started to paint on New York’s subway carriages in the 1970’s. He quickly gained a reputation for producing full-color murals on subway cars. His paintings ran throughout the city’s five boroughs as moving billboards for the next two decades. He was responsible for hundreds of whole cars painted from top to bottom, many of which have become iconic images of the time.
The art of “SEEN” was never restricted to only trains; he also produced works on canvas, sculptures, and other pieces from items found on the streets. In 1980, he was one of the first of a handful of artists to exhibit his work throughout Europe and Asia, having numerous solo shows and group museum exhibitions. In 1981, P.S.1’s “New York/New Wave”, a seminal exhibition at MOMA, set the stage for future artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. “SEEN” was also part of this groundbreaking event.
“SEEN” was featured prominently in the 1982 PBS documentary “Style Wars”. This film was influential in moving graffiti from the underground subculture to the mainstream. In 1984, the follow-up book “Subway Art” was released, now exposing “SEEN” and graffiti internationally. His lettering style became a base print for other artists to build on.
Amongst his daredevil antics, “SEEN” also gained notoriety in 1985 for scrolling his name across the legendary Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, California.
“SEEN” continues to create constantly and exhibit worldwide.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITS
1982 – “SEEN” The Yaki Kornblit Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1983 – “SEEN” The Yaki Kornblit Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1984 – “SEEN” Stellweg-Seguy Gallery, New York, NY Sept,11-Oct,4th.
1985 – “SEEN” Exhibit & Live demonstration. Suntory Company, Tokyo, Japan
1985 – “SEEN” The Yaki Kornblit Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2003 – “WHAT MAKES A SUBWAY CAR RUN?” STIP Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2005 – “END OF AN ERA”- (These walls under video surveillance). Outside Institute Space, London, UK
2005 – “VINTAGE MONSTERS”- (New paintings & Sculptures). McCaig-Welles Gallery, New York, NY 2005 – “STENCIL THIS” Prosper Gallery, (with catalog) Tokyo, Japan
2007 – “SEEN CITY” MAKE YOUR MARK Galerie Chappe, (with catalog) Paris, France,
2007 – “SIGN OF THE TIMES” Stolen-Space Gallery, London, UK
2009 – “SEEN – POP UP SHOW” Lyon, France.
2010 – “PleaSE-ENjoy” Magda Danysz Gallery, (Hardcover book) Paris, France
2010 – “RICHARD “SEEN” MIRANDO” Solo Abstract Exhibit, (Hardcover book) La Fondazione Valenzi, Castel Nuovo, Napoli, Italia
2011 – “SEEN RETROSPECTIVE” Opera Gallery, (with catalog) Paris, France
2013 – “SEEN – SUPERHEROS” Opera Gallery, (with catalog) Paris, France.
2013 – “POST NO BILLS” Opera Gallery, Hong Kong, (with catalog) Sept,17–Oct,15
2013 – “SEEN” Opera Gallery, (with catalog) Geneva, Switzerland
2014 – “SEEN – SUPERHEROES” Opera Gallery, (with catalog) London, UK
2014 – “POST NO BILLS” Opera Gallery, (with catalog) Dubai, Nov, 26
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITS
1981 – NEW YORK / NEW WAVE, MoMA P.S.1., New York, NY Feb,15- Apr. 5.
1983 – Boymans van Beuningen Museum, “GRAFFITI” (with catalog). Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
1983 – “GROUP SHOW” The Yaki Kornblit Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
1983 – Groninger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands.
1983 – “POST GRAFFITI” Sidney Janis Gallery, Dec,1-31st, New York, NY
1983 – Galerie Thomas Munich, Germany
1983 – Gemeentemuseum Helmond, The Netherlands
1984 – “COLOGNE ART FAIR” The Yaki Kornblit Gallery, Cologne, Germany.
1984 – “GRAFFITI / HIGH ARTISTS & CLASSICAL ARTISTS”
Galerie Thomas, Munich, Germany Feb,6-Apr,5
1984 – Louisiana Museum, “NEW YORK GRAFFITI” (with catalog). Humlebaek, Denmark
1984 – “ZURICH ART FAIR” Zurich, Switzerland
1984 – Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, “The BECHT Collection” (with catalog). Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
1984 – “GRAFFITI ARTISTS” Stellweg-Seguy Gallery, New York, NY
1984 – Groninger Museum, “GRAFFITI” Tien writers uit New York, Groningen, The Netherlands 14th January
1985 – Museum Hellmond, “NEW YORK GRAFFITI” (with catalog). Hellmond, The Netherlands
1985 – “QUIK, SEEN & BLADE” Sigmund Wenger Gallery, La Jolla, CA.
1988 – “NEW GRAFFITI PAINTING – QUIK-SEEN” De Boterhal, Hoorn, The Netherlands Apr. 17-May14.
1988 – “3-AMERICAN GRAFFITI GRAFFITI” SEEN-BLADE-QUIK, Gallery Christ Delaet, Antwerp, Belgium. Nov. 6 -Dec. 31.
1989 – “GRAFFITI BETWEEN ANARCHY AND GALLERY” (with catalog). Curator: Johannes Stahl, Traveling Exhibition: Hellmond Museum, The Netherlands, Heidelberger Kunstverein.
1991 – “POST GRAFFITI – FINE ART” (with catalog). Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC
1991 – Musée National Des Monuments Français, “GRAFFITI ART” (with catalog). Paris, France
1992 – “COMING FROM THE SUBWAYS” Groninger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands
1993 – G.C. ARTS, “QUIK-SEEN & BLADE” Antwerp, Belgium.
1995 – Groninger Museum, “ART OF THE 80’s & 90’s” Groningen, The Netherlands.
1998 – “NEW YORK GRAFFITI ART – Coming From The Subways, The collection of Henk & Leonie Pijnenburg” Museum Der Stadt, Ratingen, Germany.
2000 – “COMING FROM THE UNDERGROUND” (with catalog) June 14-15
GRAFFITI at GUERNSEY’S, The PUCK Building, New York, NY
2007 – “NEW YORK LEGENDS” McCaig-Welles Gallery, New York, NY
2009 – Le “TAG” au Grand Palais, Alain-Dominique Gallizia Collection, Grand Palais,
Paris, France.
2009 – Nes dans la rue, Fondation CARTIER pour l’art contemporain, Paris, France.
2010 – “PLAYBOY REDUX” Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh,
2011 – “GRAFF CITY” Opera Gallery, Paris, France.
2011 – “STREET ART SHOW” Opera Gallery, London, UK
2011 – “THIS IS NOT GRAFFITI” Opera Gallery, Seoul, Korea.
2011 – “NEW WAVE” Opera Gallery, Singapore,
2011 – “STREET ART WITHOUT BORDERS” ProArt Gallery, Dubai, Mar,9-31st. (Group Show) – SEEN, Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Mizer
2011 – “POP STREET” Opera Gallery, Hong Kong, Mar,31-Feb,13th. (2-Man show) – SEEN & Mr.BRAINWASH (with catalog).
2012 – “THE STREET ART SHOW” Opera Gallery, Dubai,
2012 – “GRAFF THE PEACE” Opera Gallery, Paris, France.
2012 – “LEGENDS OF THE STREETS” Light Box Gallery, abu Dubai, May-June. (Group Show) – SEEN, Banksy, Mr.Brainwash, Shepard Fairey
2013 – “STREET ART IN THE CITY” ProArt Gallery, Dubai, Jan,23-Feb,13th. (Group Show) – SEEN, Shepard Fairey, D’FACE, Brainwash, Banksy
2014 – “POPPY GRAFFITI” Opera Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2016 – “SAINT TROPEZ ART SHOW” David Pluskwa Art Contemporain, Marseille, France Jun,29th.
2017 – “SAINT TROPEZ SHOW 2017 IS BACK” David Pluskwa Art Contemporain, Marseille, France. (Group Show) – SEEN, Jonone, Tilt, Pro176
2018 – “UNSANCTIONED” – VOICES OFF THE WALL. Opera Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland. (Group Show) – SEEN, Blek Le Rat, Haring, D’Face, Basquiat.
2019 – “WE WERE HERE” Chase Contemporary, New York, USA Jun,17-Jul,21st. (Group Show) – SEEN, Haring, Hambleton, Twist, Shepard Fairey.
2019 – “STREET CRED” Tinney Contemporary, Nashville, Tennessee USA Jul-Aug. (Group Show) – SEEN, Mr. Brainwash, Blek Le Rat.
2023 – “UN-LEASHED” TAGGING THE PAST – POST GRAFFITI IN THE 80’s. Ghost Gallery, Paris, France.
SELECTED BOOK PUBLICATIONS
1984 – “SUBWAY ART” – BOOK
Authors: Martha Cooper & Henry Chalfant, Which documents the early history of the New York City Graffiti movement. The book has been described as a landmark photographic history known by many as “THE BIBLE OF GRAFFITI.”
1987 – “SPRAYCAN ART” – BOOK
Authors: Henry Chalfant and James Prigoff. Published by THAMES & HUDSON, this is the first book to document the initial stages of the worldwide spread of the NEW YORK CITY Subway Graffiti style and subculture.
2009 – “BORN IN THE STREETS” – BOOK
Author: Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, PARIS. The book revisits the birth of GRAFFITI, analyzes its codes and techniques, and presents the movement’s significant figures, focusing on the artists who contributed to its explosion, diffusion, and recognition by the contemporary art world. Interviews with “SEEN” and several pioneers of Graffiti will shed new light on this artistic movement and the major stages of its evolution.
SELECTED DOCUMENTARIES
1982 – “STYLE WARS”
SELECTED INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI EVENTS
1996 – “SUBKULT 96” Copenhagen, Denmark 1996, Aug 15th – Sept 1st.
1997 – “LIVIN’ LARGE 97” Munich, Germany 1997,
1998 – “GRAFF JAM” Athens, Greece 1998,
1998 – “STOCKTOWN” – The ARROW” Stockholm, Sweden 1998, July 24th – 25th.
1998 – “BACK TO PLANET ROCK” Eindhoven, Holland 1998, December 5.
1999 – “CHILL HILL” Frankfurt, Germany 1999,
2000 – “WALL STREET MEETING – GRAFFITI” Wiesbaden, Germany
SELECTED GRAFFITI MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS
1998 – “BACKSPIN” Magazine,
Published Apr – June 1998, Germany
Issue #11 “SEEN” (United Artists)
Cover- “SEEN”
1999 – “SEEN”- On The Run Magazine,
1st publishing Mar, 1999, Germany
Vol- #3, Double “SEEN” Issue,
White & Gold cover Edition,
2002 – “GRAPHOTISM” Magazine,
Published 2002, United Kingdom
Book Issue #38
“SEEN” Edition, GODFATHER OF GRAFFITI,
(Outside Institute)
2007 – “INNERCITY” Magazine,
Published Sept, 2007,
Issue #13, Sept-Oct-Nov, 2007
“SEEN” Godfather Of Graffiti, “BACK ON TRACKS”
2010 – “GRAFFITI ART” Magazine,
Published 2010, France
Issue #14 2010-2011
“SEEN” SuperHeros Du Graffiti,
SELECTED TATTOO MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS
1993 – Outlaw Biker “TATTOO REVUE” Issue #30 Oct,
“ART THAT MOVES – FROM STEEL TO SKIN”
Cover & Story, Centerfold Calendar.
1994 – “TATTOO INK” Magazine, Issue #2 March,
“TATTOO SEEN – MAKES HIS MARK IN DA’ BRONX”
1994 – “TATTOO MAGAZINE” Pisano, Issue #61 Sept,
“STEEL OR SKIN? – TATTOOS By SEEN”
SELECTED PROJECTS
1980 – The SAM ESSES Workshop & Collection, New York, NY
2009 – Fondation CARTIER pour l’art contemporain, Exhibition- “BORN IN THE STREETS” Paris, France. July 7, 2009-Jan 10, 2010
2005 – “THE WARRIORS” – VIDEO GAME,
Publisher: ROCKSTAR GAMES, Released – Oct 17
2006 – Marc Ecko’s “GETTING UP”
Publisher: ATARI, Released – Feb 14