Street Kings: RISK + Blek le Rat highlights two kings of the Graffiti movement, each of who have catalyzed the movement within their respective international home base – Los Angeles and Paris. RISK, also known by the monikers of Risky and RiskRock, moved to LA in 1982 at 15 years old. By 1989 he became one of the first LA-based taggers to adorn New York subway cars when he traveled to the epicenter of graff.

Continents apart and almost two decades earlier French artist Blek le Rat visited the New York scene, where he was inspired by the WildStyle graffiti subculture and the impulsive, alleyway works of Richard Hambleton – the godfather of street art. Returning to Europe in 1979 Blek drew on his degree in printmaking and his newfound appreciation for urban art, integrating the ethos of graffiti with the practicality and refinement of stencil-based design.