Museum of Graffiti Art Week presented by Rust-O launches December 3

MIAMI —The Museum of Graffiti in Wynwood will open two exhibitions on December 3 during Miami Art Week.

About Museum of Graffiti

Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s leading museums, the institution will unveil Origins and El Tiguere. Both trace graffiti’s journey from its first gallery appearance to international acclaim.

ORIGINS Exhibition

Origins features original paintings from the 1973 Razor Gallery exhibition in New York, the first time graffiti was formally shown in a gallery. Works by United Graffiti Artists members PHASE2, FLINT 707, SNAKE 1, and COCO144, unseen publicly since that show closed 52 years ago, anchor the exhibition.

Visitors enter through a recreated vintage hardware store, designed as a time capsule of graffiti’s early days when artists had to scrounge for supplies. The installation doubles as a functioning paint shop stocked with Rust-O, Rust-Oleum’s new spray paint line for artists.

“Tracking down rare artifacts like this was always part of our mission so that the true history of graffiti can be shared in the most authentic way,” said Allison Freidin, Museum co‑founder.

JonOne’s El Tiguere

Running alongside Origins is El Tiguere, a solo exhibition by Harlem‑born artist JonOne (John Andrew Perello). The title, drawn from Dominican street slang, reflects resilience and grit, qualities JonOne associates with his own path from painting trains in New York to building an international career in Paris.

For the first time in Miami, JonOne will work inside a live studio at the Museum, allowing visitors to watch him create in real time.

“I have been following Jon’s artistic journey since the 1980s in New York City and marvel at what he has accomplished with his signature tag. Once vilified, we now celebrate his artistic genius,” said Alan Ket, Museum co‑founder and curator.

Why Miami Art Week Matters

While Miami Art Week often highlights contemporary street art by figures such as Banksy, KAWS, and artists influenced by Basquiat, these exhibitions revisit the moment graffiti first entered gallery spaces. The 1973 Razor Gallery show drew national attention, with reviews in The New York Times and coverage in Newsweek, before the works disappeared from public view. Their reappearance marks a rare opportunity to see foundational pieces that shaped the debate over graffiti as art or vandalism.

The Museum of Graffiti, founded in 2019, has focused on preserving and documenting graffiti’s global impact. These exhibitions represent one of its most important historical recoveries to date.

Miami Art Week Schedule

From December 3–5, 2025, the Museum will open exhibitions daily from noon to 6 p.m. The outdoor patio will host parties, activations, and performances, connecting the Museum of Graffiti, The Art of Hip Hop, and The Private Gallery. General admission is $25.

Recurring attractions include:

• Truist Bank’s ART ATM dispensing limited edition giclees by TATS CRU
• Daily Rust-O demonstrations featuring aerosol battles
• Modelo’s Open Bar and “Drop of the Day” at 1 p.m.
• Complimentary customized T-shirts by AS Colour and 4SAKN CBS
• DryWater’s hydration mocktails
• Jack Daniel’s craft cocktails

Daily highlights:

• Dec. 3: Bun B’s Trill Burgers, TATS Cru panel, live taping of Drink Champs, VIP anniversary party
• Dec. 4: Breakfast in Brazil with Pixadors, Shark Art with Daymond John, JonOne discussion
• Dec. 5: DJ Sounds of Reality, ALL CAPS open call for muralists

To learn more, visit the Museum of Graffiti’s website.