Phase 2, Pioneer of Wild Style Graffiti, Dies at 64
Phase 2, whose real name was Lonny Wood, passed away on December 12, 2019, at the age of 64 in a rehabilitation center located in the Bronx. He was a pivotal figure in the realms of graffiti and hip-hop, credited with creating the 'bubble letter' style and shaping the 'Wild Style' aesthetic during the early days of New York graffiti. His influence extended to Italy, where he guided artists such as Sky4 and Rae. Although his contributions were significant, he did not achieve widespread fame, and his legacy in Italy diminished; a mural in Pisa was removed during renovation efforts, contrasting with the well-known 'Tuttomondo' by Keith Haring. Phase 2 also authored the 1996 book 'Style, Writing from the underground' and was recognized for his critical views on media, as well as being a supportive mentor in Milan and Zurich.
Key facts
- Phase 2 died on December 12, 2019, at a Bronx rehabilitation center.
- He invented bubble letters and developed the Wild Style graffiti aesthetic.
- His influence reached Italy, where he mentored writers like Sky4, Rae, Pongo, Drop-C, CKC, Flycat, Shad, Alberto di Wag, Mace, Rusty, Dado, Polo, and Syd.
- A mural by Phase 2 in Pisa was erased during urban beautification.
- His book 'Style, Writing from the underground' (1996) was published by Stampa Alternativa and co-published with IGTimes.
- The book featured amateur photos of subway trains, contrasting with professional graffiti photography.
- Phase 2 was critical of media and commercial interests in graffiti.
- He was a mentor to a generation of European writers in Milan and Zurich.
Entities
Artists
- Phase 2
- Lonny Wood
- Sky4
- Rae
- Pongo
- Drop-C
- CKC
- Flycat
- Shad
- Alberto di Wag
- Mace
- Rusty
- Dado
- Polo
- Syd
- Keith Haring
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Martha Cooper
- Chalfant
- David Schmidlapp
Institutions
- Stampa Alternativa
- IGTimes
- Artribune
Locations
- Bronx
- New York
- Milan
- Zurich
- Pisa
- Italy
- Switzerland