Jose "Prime" Reza, (born October 5, 1971) is an American graffiti artist born and raised in the Pico-Union District of Downtown Los Angeles. Prime is credited with being a founding father of Los Angeles stylized graffiti lettering, a hybrid of Cholo lettering and East Coast style graffiti that is often bold, aggressive, and monochromatic.The Devil's Dictionary by Rodrigo Ribera D'Ebre Huffington Post 04/17/2014
Prime is considered one of the most influential artists in the history of Los Angeles public wall writing, combining "traditional east coast painting techniques with geometric gangster-style blocks."Deitch, Jeffrey; Gastman, Roger; Rose, Aaron (2011). Art in the Streets. New York, NY: Rizzoli
Complex Magazine included Prime on their list "25 greatest L.A. Graffiti Writers" noting that, "...his pieces from the early 80's still shit on most stuff today."The 25 Greatest LA Graffiti Writers Complex Magazine The Vibe History of Hip Hop acknowledges Prime's vital contributions to L.A.'s distinctive graffiti style in a chapter titled "Early Los Angeles Hip Hop" written by Ben Higa."Early Los Angeles Hip Hop" written by Ben Higa in Light, Alan.(1999). The Vibe History of Hip Hop. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
Early life and education His parents immigrated to Los Angeles, California from Tamaulipas, Mexico and settled in Pico-Union, a historic neighborhood once known for its high density, Latino population, gang violence, and illegal drug commerce.Pico-Union Residents Hopeful About Court Order Against Gang Violence: Petition for injunction against 18th Street group seeks to end reign of terror. But critics remain skeptical. by GEORGE RAMOS August 05, 1997 Los Angeles Times.
Work Prime gained international exposure in 1987 when his work was featured in the seminal book Spraycan Art, one of the earliest documentations of graffiti culture and inspired additional movements around the world.Chalfant, Henry; Prigoff, James (1987). Spraycan Art, London: Thames & Hudson. In the book, Graffiti L.A.: Street Styles and Art Steve Grody writes of Prime, "His battle piece representing K2S crew against WCA crew in 1985 is arguably the single most influential piece in the establishment of L.A. style."Grody, Steve (2006) Graffiti L.A.: Street Styles and Art New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams.
Collaborative works Prime is one of the original members of the Kill 2 Succeed (K2S) graffiti crew, established in 1985 by Rick One along with Geo, Alex "Defer" Kizu, and Risco, which created murals throughout Los Angeles.
Recent Projects In 2013 Prime designed the cover of The Getty Research Institute's L.A. Liber Amicorum (The Getty Graffiti Black Book), a modern-day rare manuscript bound together into a single work of art that includes 143 graffiti and tattoo artists from Los Angeles.LA Liber Amicorum Getty Research Institute
The creation of The Getty Graffiti Black Book/L.A. Liber Amicorum led to "Scratch," an exhibition at the El Segundo Museum of Art which opened in June, 2014. "Scratch" created a live book of friendship in gallery environment, with the gallery walls curated by six different artists and painted with their friends.ESMoA Experience 11: Scratch – Jun 8 until Sept 21, 2014 Prime participated in a wall curated by Alex "Defer" Kizu, titled Dark Progressivism."Scratch" at El Segundo Museum of Art Posted by Lisa Derrick on June 8, 2014 in Events Cartwheel Art
Personal life In 1989, Prime survived a gang-related shooting. The artist was shot at point blank range by two different assailants with two separate firearms, losing full movement of his right hand for many years. Prime responded by training himself to write and paint with his left hand, which is how he primarily paints today, although he has developed ambidextrous skills and at times switches hands.Martinez, Ruben (1993). The Other Side. New York, NY:Vintage.
Exhibitions ”CottonWood”series Solo exhibit, OGalleryLA, WestHollywood, CA, 2020 Roll Call: 11 artists from L.A., L.A. Louver Gallery, Venice, CA, 2016 Dark Progressivism: Metropolis Rising, special exhibition, LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA, 2015 Scratch, El Segundo Museum of Art, El Segundo, CA. 2014 Alphabet Soup, Boathouse Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2013 Trece, Boathouse Gallery, Plaza de la Raza, Los Angeles, CA. 2012 Records Revisionists Show, Warner Brothers Studios, Los Angeles, CA. 2012 Street Cred: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, CA. 2011 Art in the Streets, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 2011 Through The Wormhole", MING Studios, Boise, ID. 2018
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