Woodbury House

As we delve into this exhibition, it’s important to first understand the journey of Torrick Ablack, widely known as TOXIC. To fully appreciate his art, we must revisit the vibrant streets of New York City in the 1980s, where the graffiti movement was born and where TOXIC’s artistic story began.

Born in 1965 in the Bronx, TOXIC became a key figure in the 1980s graffiti movement. The Bronx’s vibrant culture and burgeoning hip-hop scene greatly influenced his artistic path. Initially drawn to various aspects of hip-hop, including DJing and breakdancing, it was graffiti that truly captured his passion.

The nickname ‘TOXIC’ originated from his youthful energy, particularly on the basketball court, where he earned the moniker ‘Toxic Battery.’ At just thirteen, he embraced this name as his signature alias and began his graffiti journey.

His artistic path took a significant leap when he joined the ‘Tag Master Killers’ crew led by the influential Rammellzee. With the support of his friend A-One, TOXIC refined his skills, delving deeper into graffiti’s artistic possibilities. Rammellzee encouraged him and his peers to transcend traditional graffiti by integrating themes of futurism and abstraction into their work.