InstaFame Phantom Art (Volume 1): The Nic 707 Collection (NYC Transit Exhibition

“The trains are my gallery.”
 
With those words, legendary graffiti Style Master Nic 707 returned to the New York transit system to embark upon an art campaign like no other: A series of innovative, guerrilla-style exhibitions known as InstaFame Phantom Art.
 
Starting in 2009, Nic 707 held dozens of events over eleven years, transforming the insides of train cars and buses into the ultimate pop-up galleries. Thousands of passengers were treated to these novel experiences, witnessing the return of classic graffiti to its place of origin and the works of artists in a multitude of genres from the United States and abroad. All for the price of a Metrocard.
Before being struck down by Covid-19 in 2020, Nic 707 amazingly displayed hundreds of fantastic works in the “mobile graffiti” format, amassing a truly groundbreaking and unique collection, one the New York Times claimed: “would be the envy of any urban art gallery.”
 
InstaFame Phantom Art Volume One chronicles the exhibition’s first five years, primarily featuring its founder, Nic 707, who also created the techniques and format this project pioneered. This colorful guide delves into Nic 707’s early experiences as a graffiti writer, his inspiring philosophy, and his approach to revolutionize public performance and exhibition. It serves as a detailed and comprehensive resource for art enthusiasts and collectors interested in identifying and tracking particular works, containing hundreds of images that celebrate Nic 707’s wild talent and irrepressible imagination. It also stands as an entertaining memoir and testament to one of the most fascinating initiatives in modern graffiti and art history.
 
If you are a fan of graffiti, historic art movements, or an artist who is interested in the drives and motivations of other artists, this book is a wonderful addition to any personal library. It presents the story of a man who allowed his dreams to be reborn and inspired others to follow theirs. Many will find it a delightful carry-along companion that they will share with friends and fellow artists alike.
 
ABOUT NIC 707
 
Nic 707 founded OTB, the “Out to Bomb” or “Only the Best,” graffiti crew in the ‘70s, whose members included such luminaries as NOC 167, Cope 2, and Tracy 168. InstaFame Phantom Art is the culmination of his early calling as a graffiti writer in the 1970s and his sincere desire to conscientiously bring graffiti back to its ancestral home. Having passed away due to complications from Covid-19, this decade-long project, its pioneering concepts, and the resulting collection remain as Nic 707's enduring legacy.