"SAMOO@#**!" by Al Diaz
Item Description: This acrylic on canvas by Al Diaz (6 x 8 inches) boldly spells "SAMOO@#**!"—a nod to the SAMO tag he created with Jean-Michel Basquiat. Featured at Van Der Plas Gallery, it bridges historical significance with contemporary expression. Its compact, vibrant form makes a powerful statement for street art collectors. Van Der Plas Gallery provides access to rare pieces showcasing artistic innovation and cultural heritage. Experience SAMO's legacy through this compelling work by Al Diaz.
Artist Information:
Born and raised in New York City, Al Díaz (b. 1959) is a Puerto Rican artist whose work is deeply rooted in the city's graffiti, underground and contemporary art movements.
By the age of 15, Díaz had established himself as a prominent first-generation subway graffiti artist, working under the name BOMB-1. He is best known for his collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat on SAMO©…, the influential graffiti project that appeared throughout Lower Manhattan between 1978 and 1980. Combining sharp wit, social commentary and sardonic humour, SAMO©… became one of the most distinctive voices of New York's downtown art scene.
Following the SAMO©… years, Díaz explored music and percussion, contributing to Beat Bop, the landmark 1983 hip-hop recording featuring Basquiat, Rammellzee and K-Rob. He later worked in New York's building industry as a lead carpenter, while maintaining his artistic practice.
Díaz continues to work with language, text and found materials. His ongoing WET PAINT works incorporate signage associated with the New York City subway system, transforming individual letters into surreal, humorous and often thought-provoking messages. In 2016, he returned to the SAMO©… writings, revisiting and extending a body of work that remains relevant to contemporary audiences.
Over a career spanning five decades, Díaz has exhibited internationally and participated in significant exhibitions including Beyond the Streets (Los Angeles, 2018), Zeitgeist: The Teenage Art Scene of Basquiat(New York, 2018), Art Miami, SCOPE and the World Trade Center's Art4WTC exhibition. His work and history have also been featured in numerous books, films and publications, including Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat, The Radiant Child and The Faith of Graffiti.
Díaz has spoken at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, The New School, the Museum of the City of New York, MoMA, the New York Public Library, Christie's Education and the Barbican in London.
In 2018, he published SAMO©… SINCE 1978, a book documenting the history, context and meaning of the original SAMO©… writings. He also recently made public a personal archive of photographs documenting Basquiat during his teenage years.
Now based in Brooklyn, Díaz continues to explore the relationship between language, urban culture, history and artistic expression.
