John Matos (CRASH) was born in 1961 in the Bronx, New York, where he is currently based. Matos adopted the name CRASH in high school after taking a course in computer programming. At the age of thirteen, he began bombing subway cars and his work started to appear on trains and dilapidated buildings throughout New York City. In 1980, CRASH transitioned from the streets to the gallery when he curated Graffiti Art Success for America at Fashion MODA in the South Bronx. This groundbreaking exhibition is viewed as a launching point in legitimizing the graffiti movement, connecting street artists and the downtown fine arts world, with CRASH as a pioneer. In 1983 he headlined an exhibition called Post-Graffiti with Keith Haring and Jean-Michele Basquiat at Sydney Janis Gallery in New York. CRASH’s work is included in numerous permanent collections such as the Brooklyn Museum and Museum of Modern Art. His commercial projects have involved brand collaborations with Fender, Tumi, Ferrari and more. In 2013, he was invited to paint a mural on the famed Houston and Bowery wall.
Past Exhibitions
