Egs is the most internationally recognized Finnish graffiti artist. His career started in Helsinki during the late 80’s and was part of the country’s first graffiti wave.
Egs sees his art as an anthropological research into graffiti. At first he searched for every piece of graffiti in his own neighbourhood, then in the rest of Helsinki before heading to meet and paint with like-minded writers in all corners of Europe. During the past 25 years he has extended his travels to five continents
and has painted in over 40 countries. He has sought inspiration in local graffiti scenes worldwide and collected global graffiti folklore for his own art.
“Every wave, star, drip or block I have ever painted can be traced to this attitude of graffiti anthropologist. Every fade is reminiscent of some graffiti that I have seen. Every 3d or bubble has a story to tell. Every piece I’ve done pays an homage to the great graffiti folklore.” -Egs
Egs’ art has been exhibited in galleries and on walls all over the world. His works are inspired by graffiti art in its most distilled form: a name painted in black.
Selected exhibitions and publications of Egs
Solo exhibitions:
2014
ARCOmadrid, Madrid, Spain
2013
Make Your Mark Galleria, Helsinki, Finland
2012
Unruly Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2010
Napa Galleria, Helsinki, Finland
Group exhibitions:
2014
WuTang is For Children, Londonnewcastle Project Space, London, England
2013
5 years of GSB, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
Le Fix Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Make Your Mark-kollektiivi, Galleria Orton, Helsinki, Finland
Publications:
2014
Egs – 3 Letters
Spray Daily Books
2013
The World Atlas of Graffiti and Street Art, Rafael Schacter, Yale Press
2011
Crack & Shine International, Fredric Forsythe, FFF/Topsafe Books
