hours sketching in his black books, perfecting every line and color with obsessive precision. In the 1970s, he began tagging the streets of New York under various pseudonyms (BUS 129, MR WHITE, PRE, POSE, ROLL, 2 MANY, ASIA) before settling on the name DONDI. In 1977, he joined the crew TOP (The Odd Partners) and later founded his own collective, CIA (Crazy Inside Artists), focusing his work on subway line 2, where he covered dozens of train cars with his distinctive lettering and drawings. It wasn’t until 1983, when his parents saw him interviewed on television, that they discovered his tagging activities. Dondi’s talent lay in his mastery of letters, which he expressed in a wide range of styles, from intricate Wild Style designs to clear, readable inscriptions enriched with figures and symbols. His works often carried personal references—childhood memories or nods to classical artists like Leonardo da Vinci—and conveyed profound messages reflecting his fears and aspirations. With each creation, he strove for perfection. His unique and authentic style quickly earned him the admiration of his peers, who regarded him as a “style king” and an unparalleled master of urban calligraphy. Dondi inspired an entire generation of artists, giving rise to the term “DONDISM” and earning the title Style Master General, immortalized in a monograph by Michael White and Zephyr. Like a modern-day knight, he wielded his spray can as a banner of freedom, traveling the world to leave his mark as a symbol of rebellion and creativity. At the turn of the 1980s, as graffiti became a cultural phenomenon in New York, Dondi began transitioning his art onto canvas, adopting a more professional approach. In 1980, he participated in the Esses Studio project, led by Futura and Zephyr, collaborating with other graffiti artists to translate their street art into a more permanent format. This project marked a turning point, bringing together street artists and solidifying their place in the contemporary art movement. A trailblazer in his approach, Dondi was one of the first graffiti artists to exhibit in galleries, transforming graffiti from an illegal act into a legitimate artistic expression. His shift from trains to canvases was celebrated by curators, critics, and collectors, who recognized his work as a creative force that cemented graffiti’s place in art history. Viewing his canvases as miniatures of his large-scale murals, Dondi continued his relentless pursuit of perfection. In 1981, he participated in the iconic New York/New Wave exhibition at P.S.1, alongside thirteen other graffiti artists, including Fab Five Freddy, Futura, Zephyr, Lee, Jean-Michel Basquiat (alias Samo), and Lady Pink. The event solidified these artists as major figures in the contemporary art scene. In the following years, Dondi expanded his influence by joining The Soul Artists and contributing to the rise of the East Village as a hub of avant-garde art. He exhibited at Patti Astor’s Fun Gallery, where he mingled with legends like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, cementing his status as a visionary and a pivotal figure in both graffiti and contemporary art.