Official Dondi Graffiti Train (7" Double Sided)
"CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE II"
Features:
- Hip Hop Toyz, Clutter and Definitive Projects
- Officially licensed artwork from The DONDI Estate
- Double-sided train w/ Original Artwork by Dondi
- Certificate of Authenticity - hand signed by Mike White (Nephew of Dondi)
- The alloy subway car has a pull back and go function
- Lights and Sounds
- Limited Edition of 100 Made
- 1:100 scale die-cast NYC MTA subway car
Dondi: A Graffiti Pioneer
Dondi, born Donald Joseph White, was a prominent American graffiti artist renowned for his vibrant lettering and stick figure illustrations. His work, characterized by its dynamic energy and explosive use of color, was equally celebrated on canvas and urban walls.
Dondi's graffiti career began in the early 1970s as a member of The Odd Partners, a group of artists primarily active on New York City's M, J, and L subway lines. In 1977, he formed his own crew, CIA, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the graffiti movement.
Photographer Martha Cooper documented Dondi's work in her series Children of the Grace (1979), capturing his subway car paintings. These images also featured prominently in the influential 1984 book Subway Art.
In 1980, Dondi participated in the Esses Studio project, an initiative aimed at preserving subway art that was being removed by the MTA. This experience marked a transition to canvas work, where he continued to explore his signature style alongside renowned East Village artists like Futura, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Dondi's later works, particularly from the 1990s, incorporated collages that juxtaposed pencil drawings with subway system blueprints, a nod to his early graffiti roots. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by AIDS, and he passed away in 1998 at the age of 37.
Dondi's legacy lives on through his exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Groninger Museum, Fun Gallery, and Musée des Monuments Français. His contributions to the graffiti movement continue to inspire artists and enthusiasts worldwide.
