Bronze Sculpture for Sale
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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
Secure delivery : France
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About the artwork
Type
Numbered and limited to 50 copies
4 copies available
Signature
Signed artwork
Authenticity
Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery
Invoice from the gallery
Medium
Dimensions cm • inch
80 x 100 x 3 cm 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch Height x Width x Depth
Framing
Not framed
Tags
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Artwork location: Spain
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.
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.
Read more
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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