Fab Five Freddy just closed his “New York, New Work” exhibition, and Complex.com was quick to talk with him afterwards. In the interview, Fred Brathwaite spoke about the exhibit, his beginnings as a graffiti artist, introduction to the art scene, and more.

“I started doing graf ages ago, but more significantly, I was one of the first writers that wanted to move into the art scene as an artist, back in the early ’80s,” Freddy said.

As a younger artist, Fab Five Freddy was involved with some of the first hip-hop movies ever, Rapture and Wild Style, and the talk show, Yo! MTV Raps. He also worked often with Futura 2000, an artist he still considers a close friend.

Now, Brathwaite stays involved in the hip-hop scene by continuing to make art and participating in conventions like the recent “Arts in the Streets“ show. Freddy said the diversity was the most rewarding part of the exhibition.

“More people are involved, more people know about it. It’s become a global culture. It was only in the city at that time, and now it’s worldwide. That’s what is exciting for me, especially with Art in the Streets,” he said. “There’s a great website, Artinthestreet.tv, and it has short clips of the main artist in the show. You really get to see the diversity of the artist and their work. Different energies from different places.”

For the full interview, see Complex.

Here are some of the pieces from “New York, New Work,” after the jump.

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We presume Banksy has done all right for himself, financially speaking, so maybe that’s an incentive to share a little.  The British street artist has paid for admissions to the “Art in the Streets“ exhibition on Mondays through August 8^th when the show closes.  In Banksy’s words, “I don’t think you should have to pay to look at graffiti. You should only pay if you want to get rid of it”.  Agreed.  Now you have no excuse not to go.

via Juxtapoz

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Art in the Streets is the first major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art. Curated by MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch and Associate Curators Roger Gastman and Aaron Rose, the exhibition will trace the development of graffiti and street art from the 1970s to the global movement it has become today, concentrating on key cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and Sao Paulo, where a unique visual language or attitude has evolved. The exhibition will feature paintings, mixed media sculptures, and interactive installations by 50 of the most dynamic artists and will emphasize Los Angeles’s role in the evolution of graffiti and street art, with special sections dedicated to seminal local movements such as cholo graffiti and Dogtown skateboard culture. A comprehensive timeline illustrated with artwork, photos, video, and ephemera will provide a historical context for the work.

Art in the Streets is made possible by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

This exhibition is generously supported by the Sydney Irmas Exhibition Endowment.

Major support is provided by Levi’s. Additional support is provided by Mandy and Cliff Einstein, Nike SB, MOCA Contemporaries, Janet and Tony Goldman, MOCA Partners, Montana Colors, and Greg Escalante.

In-kind media support is provided by Ovation, Los Angeles magazine, and KCRW 89.9 FM.

Open until August 18, 2011

via MOCA

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