Repainting Subway Art: Tripl/Furious’ Tribute to Graffiti's Legacy
Written by Anne van Bree
In 1984, Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant struggled to publish Subway Art, not realizing it would become the groundbreaking book on graffiti, selling over half a million copies. Their photos documented New York’s vibrant graffiti scene, influencing global street art and preserving a once-ephemeral subculture.
Decades later, Dutch graffiti artist Tripl/Furious (for ease of use: Tripl) spent ten years recreating all 239 artworks from Subway Art on Dutch trains, replicating the original photos with incredible precision. His project Repainting Subway Art (RSA) is a meticulous tribute, culminating in a book released in 2024 — exactly 40 years after the original. A traveling exhibition regarding RSA, curated by Jasper van Es, has been showcased in Eindhoven (NL), Leicester (UK), Weil am Rhein (DE) and Berlin (DE) and is currently on view in New York.
We spoke with Jasper while he was setting up the exhibition at WallWorks New York. On Friday April 4, RSA officially kicked off in the city with a talk featuring Martha Cooper, Henry Chalfant and Crash — the artist featured on the original Subway Art cover.
“Everything in the original book was painted right here in New York,” Jasper notes, explaining the significance of the location. “When you walk around, you can still feel it. Sometimes you even catch glimpses of old tags. Many writers from that era have sadly passed away, but some are still here to see this exhibition. It feels surreal, but at the same time like it was meant to happen. As if everything has come full circle.” Tripl agrees: “It really feels like we’re bringing it back home. New York is where it all started.”
“It really feels like we’re bringing it back home. New York is where it all started.”
Tripl discovered graffiti in 2001 at his local skatepark and painted his first train a year later — an experience that left him wanting more. Since then, train graffiti has remained an important part of his life. His motivation hasn’t changed much over the years: it’s the mix of creativity and the thrill of figuring out how to paint on guarded trains that keeps him hooked.
What began as a joke soon became a serious project. Initially, Tripl overlooked small details, but as the project progressed, his approach grew more meticulous. His motivation remained high from the start. He saw each page — especially the cover — as a puzzle, with every completed piece bringing him closer to finishing it. The biggest challenge? Some pieces were difficult due to their size or complexity, while others were tricky because of their original setting. “One of the toughest was a whole car by Dondi,” Tripl recalls. “Martha Cooper was there when he painted it over 40 years ago, capturing action shots as well as a final image of the train crossing a bridge. I had to recreate not just the artwork but the entire photoshoot — which was no easy task.”
“Martha Cooper was there when he painted it over 40 years ago, capturing action shots as well as a final image of the train crossing a bridge. I had to recreate not just the artwork but the entire photoshoot — which was no easy task.”
Bringing this project to life required a wide range of skills, for which Tripl credits his years of experience. Over time, he refined both his technical abilities and his knowledge of how to evade security and track train schedules — essential skills for pulling off a project of this scale.
Many original Subway Art writers haven’t had the chance to see the book or fully understand the scale of the project. Jasper reflects: “It’s hard to express how much work went into it, especially considering the difficulty of painting the trains, getting the perfect shot and capturing everything at the right moment. While we’re expecting mostly positive feedback, graffiti is competitive and some criticism is inevitable, which I’m totally fine with. I hope the original writers see this as a tribute. They’ve inspired so many European writers, and this is our way of honoring that.”
“It’s hard to express how much work went into it, especially considering the difficulty of painting the trains, getting the perfect shot and capturing everything at the right moment. While we’re expecting mostly positive feedback, graffiti is competitive and some criticism is inevitable, which I’m totally fine with. I hope the original writers see this as a tribute. They’ve inspired so many European writers, and this is our way of honoring that.”
According to Jasper, there have been clear shifts both artistically and culturally in the 40 years since graffiti exploded in New York. “The style has evolved and today’s paint quality is far superior, you can instantly notice the difference. While the city is still heavily tagged, the atmosphere feels different, with new techniques like rappelling becoming more common. The biggest change in the subway is that the trains are now clean, nothing runs “in traffic” anymore. Though some pieces can be seen online, the vibe is completely different from the ’70s and ’80s, when the trains were covered and the scene felt freer, with pioneers pushing new boundaries. Still, New York remains a graffiti city at its core and hopefully RSA resonates with today’s writers.”
After dedicating ten years to the Repainting Subway Art project, Tripl’s work feels like a lifetime’s dedication to graffiti. However, he doesn’t see it as the final chapter in his artistic journey. As he puts it: “Graffiti isn’t done with me yet, and I’m not done with graffiti.” With the book released and the exhibition on display, Tripl is overwhelmed by the positive reactions. But for him, it’s not just about recognition — it’s about highlighting graffiti’s origins and its cultural significance. Through this project, he hopes to shed light on the early pieces and their importance to the movement. Looking ahead, Tripl’s focus is on creative growth, with less emphasis on quantity and more on executing one truly original idea at a time. So, the lingering question remains: what’s next?
TRIPL a.k.a. FURIOUS – Repainting Subway Art (curated by Jasper van Es) on view from April 5 – May 2, 2025 at WallWorks New York.
Order Repainting Subway Art (published by Ruyzdael Publishing).
Anne van Bree is a journalist from Breda with a passion for public art that began in her teenage years. Accompanied by her camera, she explores new places by capturing the artwork on their walls. Her work focuses on uncovering the stories behind street art and graffiti, as well as the vibrant culture they represent.