AUSTIN, Texas — A new exhibit honoring the influence a hip-hop pioneer is now open in Austin.
West Chelsea Contemporary (WCC) is hosting Combinations, a solo presentation of new works by New York-based artist Cey Adams. The presentation marks the first time the gallery will feature a single artist in its over 7,500-square foot space.
The exhibition is an amalgamation of Adams’ 40 year career, and brings together his work with graffiti, street art, graphic design, painting and collage to visual storytelling.
“Combinations revisits early ideas and various styles spanning over 40 years of my art making career," Adams said in a press release on his new exhibit. "This current body of work reexamines societal and social structures in America that divide us. The primary goal of my art is to be a bridge that brings people closer together. Over the years, I’ve seen how graffiti, street art and hip-hop have created a unified movement with lasting impact on popular culture.”
Adams says he draws inspiration from 60’s pop art, sign painting, comic books and popular culture including hip-hop. He is credited as being an architect of hip-hop’s visual nature through his work as the founding Creative Director of Def Jam Recordings. Adams’ album covers and logo designs inspired a number of notable hip-hop artists, including Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.
Featured alongside Adams’ work are a pair of documentary photographers, Martha Cooper and Janette Beckman, who have chronicled graffiti and hip-hop. Adams partnered with both Cooper and Beckman to create collaborative prints alongside WCC Editions printer Gary Lichtenstein. Each of the three prints are designed to represent the evolution of Adams’ journey and will be available for purchase through the gallery's gift shop, both online and in person.
"The number one message is love, because I've created a lot of works that speak to people coming together, and the easiest way to describe it is sort of thinking about hip-hop itself, it started out locally in New York City, and it's expanded throughout the United States, and obviously throughout the world," said Adams.
Combinations will be open to the public seven days a week until Nov. 19.