Cops on Subway, 1981, 2026
Martha Cooper  

Design : digital print · 80 x 100 x 3 cm 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€995 995 €

One of the last works available by this artist

Shipping & delivery

Shipped from: Spain

Delivery to: France , € 85

Estimated delivery: Less than one week

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Verified Reviews : 9.6/10
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About the artwork

Type

Design : numbered and limited to 50 copies

3 copies available

Condition

Artwork sold in perfect condition

Authenticity

Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery

Invoice from the gallery

Signature

Signed artwork

Technique & Support

Dimensions ( cminch )

80 x 100 x 3 cm 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch Height x Width x Depth

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Credentials

Vetted seller since 2017 • Top Seller

Description

Date of creation: 2026

Medium: Digital print on Canadian maple wood

Edition: 50

Size: 80 x 100 cm (80 x 20 each skate)

Condition: In mint conditions and never displayed

Limited edition of only 50 sets, hand-signed by the artist and accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. , Martha Cooper's iconic masterpiece, evokes the raw, unfiltered energy of early 1980s New York City. As one of the most prominent pioneering figures in urban photography, Cooper managed to capture a defining moment suspended between control and chaos. The photograph places two police officers inside a heavily graffiti-covered subway car, creating a striking contrast between institutional authority and underground rebellion. It is a space deeply shaped by a city in rapid transformation where, despite not being a staged scene, every element seems to find a perfect composition. It is an image that reveals itself slowly, holding a powerful, almost cinematic tension that preserves a gritty era of New York that has long since vanished.

This fundamental piece of urban history has now been masterfully reimagined as a stunning pentaptych unfolding across five collectible skate decks. Translating this historic photograph onto this medium emerges as a natural and poetic analogy, bridging the rigor of photography and street culture. Each individual wooden panel isolates a fragment of the scene, allowing one to appreciate vivid, authentic details—the bold spray paint strokes, the solemn posture of the officers, or the industrial texture of the train interior—that might otherwise remain peripheral. When arranged together on a wall, the full composition regains its entire integrity, offering a dynamic and deeply immersive experience of Cooper's visionary work.

Crafted with exceptional quality from 7-ply FSC-certified maple wood, this release harmonizes respect for the artwork with artistic sustainability. Being such an exclusive worldwide run, it consolidates itself as a highly relevant collector's piece for both contemporary photography lovers and urban art enthusiasts alike. Each pentaptych includes a numbered edition marker that ratifies its provenance, offering a unique opportunity to incorporate a cornerstone testament of authentic urban art and the timeless legacy of ©Martha Cooper into a private collection.

Street art

Pop Art

80s

Urban art

Street photography

Grey

Martha Cooper

United States  • 1942

Presentation

Martha Cooper is a photojournalist born in Baltimore in 1942. She lives and works in Manhattan. She specialized in art and architecture and was the first to document the early hours of the breakdance and graffiti culture in New York.

Starting in 1977, she workd for the New York Post for 3 years. It was during this time that she started to shoot photos of graffiti and breakdancersand the beginnings of hip-hop in the Bronx. Martha Cooper's books are bibles of hip-hop, graffiti, breakdance and the subversive cultures of the '70s, including Subway art, RIP Memorial wall art, We B*Girlz, Street Play, New York State of Mind, Tag Town, and Going Postal.

Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world and published in numerous magazines, from National Geographic to Vibe. Martha Cooper was also a director of photography for City Lore.

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