Al Diaz is reclaiming the legacy of Samo©, the graffiti project he created with Jean-Michel Basquiat
Al Diaz, known as Bomb-One in graffiti circles, is being recognized for his co-creation of Samo© alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat in the late 1970s. The conceptual tag—meaning ‘same old shit’—subverted advertising language and branding aesthetics through primitive painted forms across New York City, distinguishing itself from ego-driven graffiti through its satirical commentary on mass-produced individuality and consumer culture. While Basquiat’s elevation to fine art prominence overshadowed Diaz’s contributions, the artist has revived Samo© since 2016 and recently opened his debut UK exhibition, Transatlantication, at London’s D’Stassi gallery in Hoxton. Diaz emphasizes the territorial and identity-making dimensions of tagging as a form of public reclamation, positioning graffiti as a conceptual artistic practice rather than mere technical display.
Original article published on It’s Nice That — AI-generated summary. Visit the website to read the full article at the source. Image via It’s Nice That.
