Rammellzee's First Major European Survey Opens at Palais de Tokyo
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris is hosting "Alphabeta Sigma (Side A)," marking the first significant exhibition of Rammellzee's art in Europe, which will be open until May 11, 2025. This showcase highlights his varied artistic endeavors, featuring abstract paintings, sculptures, and UV-reactive costumes. Rammellzee, who adopted his new name in 1979, was an influential figure in New York's graffiti culture and collaborated with Jean-Michel Basquiat on the 1983 song "Beat Bop." His artistic output flourished in the 1980s before he shifted his focus to music and sculptures at his Tribeca Battle Station. The exhibition also includes his innovative designs of letters as sci-fi war machines and works by contemporaries such as Phase 2 and Dondi White. Following his passing in 2010, Jeffrey Deitch now oversees his estate. A continuation of the exhibition is planned for 2026 at CAPC in Bordeaux.
Key facts
- Rammellzee's first major European survey is at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, through May 11, 2025
- He legally changed his name to Rammellzee in 1979 at age nineteen
- In 1983, he released "Beat Bop" with Jean-Michel Basquiat as producer and sleeve artist
- Rammellzee died in 2010, and his estate is represented by Jeffrey Deitch
- The exhibition is part one of a two-part show, with part two at CAPC, Bordeaux in 2026
- His work includes colorful abstractions, spraypaint experiments, and sculptures made from trash
- Rammellzee was influenced by Black futurism and figures like Sun Ra and George Clinton
- He created sci-fi war machines from letters, with names like "starbased extendor"
Entities
Artists
- Rammellzee
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Phase 2
- Dondi White
- Futura 2000
- Sun Ra
- George Clinton
- Nona Hendryx
- Cybotron
- Jeffrey Deitch
Institutions
- Palais de Tokyo
- CAPC
- ArtReview
Locations
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- Tribeca
- Bordeaux