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André Saraiva: Graffiti Life

Author André Saraiva, Contributions by Virgil Abloh and MAGDA DANYSZ and Jeffrey Deitch and Glenn O'Brien

The first and much-anticipated book by visual artist, club creator, and nightlife impresario André Saraiva presents his wide range of works, from street art and contemporary art to graphic design, photography, and his influences on fashion and nightlife.

Street-cool visual artist-cum-nightlife guru, André Saraiva, whose life dovetails into graffiti subculture, chic jet-setting, and the fashion world, presents an autobiographical visual diary of sorts, a revealing window into the worlds he inhabits. This visual journey is an interactive and striking object itself, with either a vibrant pink cloth- or blue cloth-cover (randomly selected), Saraiva’s distinctive handwriting in foil, and seven pop-ups he designed.

Chances are that while you’ve been strolling through the streets of Paris, London, New York, or Los Angeles, you may have caught a glimpse of Saraiva’s signature graffiti of Mr. A on a random street wall. Or you may have seen him in the Banksy film, Exit Through the Gift Shop; spied him in the front rows of the Paris Fashion Week shows; or seen him at one of his many chic nightclubs. Graffiti Life is a never-before-seen look at the artist’s many spheres through which he effortlessly moves: street culture, contemporary art, graphic design, photography, fashion, and nightlife. It follows Saraiva’s art/life trajectory, and includes his Instagram-worthy tags on the streets of Paris; countless silk-screened posters; paintings and sculpture; creative collaborations with Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Colette, and more.

About The Author

André Saraiva is an artist, hotelier, and entrepreneur. Virgil Abloh is an artist, architect, engineer, creative director, and designer. Magda Danysz is a French art curator and art dealer. Glenn O’Brien (1947–2017) was a writer who focused largely on the subjects of art, music, and fashion. Jeffrey Deitch is an American art dealer and curator.

Publish Date: September 06, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Category: Art - Individual Artists - Monographs
Publisher: Rizzoli
Trim Size: 8-1/4 x 11-3/4
Pages: 320
US Price: $95.00
CDN Price: $130.00
ISBN: 978-0-8478-5863-7

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Reviews

"If there was ever a stylish man and innovator in the European graffiti scene, André is the epicenter. With Paris as the canvas, his eponymous character of a smiling stick figure with top hat and his forays into nightclubs and the fashion world, make him an icon beyond the street works. What he demonstrated was that this culture could not only be fun but a viable path to the broader impact of how we experience a city...When we think of trailblazers, he is one of the key figures, resulting in his monograph, André Saraiva: A Graffiti Life, out now via Rizzoli, as a seminal document of graffiti’s international growth over the last 50 years...And the book itself is an absolute thrill. Pop-ups, graphically exciting and bold, capture what is often lost when street artists are memorialized in monographic form. This is about fun, it’s about the thrill of creation and the endless possibilities that come when outsider culture joins the mainstream. If this art form is about shattering expectations, this book is the ideal companion. In over 320 pages, you will understand more about André and experience the beauty of good book design and the power of paper as a publishing medium. How perfect that it's associated with an artist who brought a little bit of humor and fun to the streets." —JUXTAPOZ MAGAZINE

"André Saraiva has worn many hats: club owner, hotelier, entrepreneur, graffiti artist. His inaugural book is a retrospect of his career as the latter. The 320-page tome includes photographs of his graffiti (including his alter ego Mr. A) on the streets of Paris, New York, and London; collaborations with high-end designers like Chanel and Louis Vuitton; and even “diplomas” (a.k.a. tickets) he’s received from various authorities. Contributions include words by the late Virgil Abloh, Jeffrey Deitch, and others." —NEW YORK MAGAZINE

"Clad in a top hat with a noodle-like figure and grimacing face is the ubiquitous Mr. A character that can be seen on the facade of historic buildings in Paris or on the streets of New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood. From dream concert posters to sprawling murals, the character lives on any medium that its creator wishes for the public to view." —HYPEBEAST.COM

"In 1986, when André Saraiva was 15 years old, the Swedish-French rascal started tagging “Mr. A” around the streets of Paris. His graffiti quickly turned from a hobby into a job. Within a few years, Saraiva started winning awards for his art and getting commissions from stores and museums around the world. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co. took note, tapping Saraiva to put a modern twist on silk shawls and quilted handbags. His first monograph, A Graffiti Life, comes courtesy of Rizzoli. Including essays by Virgil Abloh and Jeffrey Deitch, the 320-page book covers both Mr. A’s graffiti and Saraiva’s nightlife career (he’s opened bars and clubs in New York, Paris, Tokyo, and London)." —AIRMAIL.COM

"André Saraiva, a Swedish-French artist known for his work in graffiti, showcases some of his best works in this book inspired by fashion and nightlife. You'll find everything from street art to graphic design to photography in its 320 pages." —WOMAN'S DAY

"The Swedish-French graffiti artist and hotelier André Saraiva found his stride looking to the future while running away from convention (and the police). Now, the mind behind the street art moniker Mr. A—which he has painted, per his estimate, 20 times a night for the last 30 years—is taking a stab at nostalgia in a new retrospective book with Rizzoli, André Saraiva: Graffiti Life, an ode to his greatest exhibitions, collaborations, and risks taken." —CULTURED MAGAZINE