SABER
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Bio
Among the thousands of people who make up the graffiti community around the world, there are few names that carry the same legendary quality as SABER. Born in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, SABER was raised by creative parents and discovered his passion for art at an early age. At 13, his cousins introduced him to graffiti when they took him to see the spray paint-covered Belmont Tunnel. From that moment on, he was hooked. After honing his skills on local walls, SABER joined MSK, and was later inducted into legendary piecing crew AWR.
SABER was already a fixture in the Los Angeles graffiti scene by 1997 when he completed the largest graffiti piece ever created. His piece on the sloping cement bank of the Los Angeles River was nearly the size of a professional football field, and took 97 gallons of paint and 35 nights to complete. In a famous photograph—taken by his father just after it was finished—SABER stands on the piece and appears as a tiny speck amid a giant blaze of color. It catapulted SABER to legend status in the graffiti world. SABER began exhibiting in his fine art in 2002. While known for his elegant and aggressive abstract letterforms, SABER's artistic output has also included drippy, surreal cityscapes and his painstakingly rendered "new reality" canvases. SABER has also worked corporate projects with Hyundai, Scion, Boost Mobile, Roland Sands Design, Montana Paint Company, and Karmaloop. His monograph, SABER: MAD SOCIETY, complete with stories of his graffiti misadventures, was released by Gingko Press in 2007 and is now in its second printing.
In October 2010, SABER released a video in which the year's heated debate about healthcare was spray painted over the American flag. While some saw it as desecration, SABER advocated for healthcare reform in the video, revealing that he had epilepsy and was un-insurable. This work led SABER to create a large group of American flag paintings called the Tarnished series.
SABER's artwork will be featured in two museum shows in 2011 and he is currently preparing for a solo exhibition in New York.
| Exhibitions |
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| 2011 |
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| Solo Exhibition, Opera Gallery, New York, NY (May 5-28) |
| Art in the Streets, Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Los Angeles, CA (April 15-August 8) |
| Street Cred: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, CA (May 15-Sept 4) |
| 2010 |
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| “Live Painting at Slovakian Presidential event,’ Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Freedom, Known Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| Duality, Pop-Up show, Los Angeles CA |
| 2009 |
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| “Saber Speaks,” Organizing for America’s Health Reform Video Challenge (Top 20 Finalist) |
| Nimbus Vapor, Opera Gallery, New York, NY |
| 1 Year Anniversary Art Exhibit & Live Painting Exhibition, Mid-City Arts Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| The Legendary Belmont Tunnel, Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| Send Lawyers, Guns and Money, Canvas L.A., Los Angeles, CA |
| 2008 |
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| Royal Art Show, The Seventh Letter, MAGIC Tradeshow, Las Vegas, NV |
| In The Land Of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA |
| “Graffiti Expo,” Urban Arts Festival and World Bboy Masters Championships, R-16 Korea Sparkling, Gyeonggi, Korea |
| Life is Beautiful, Mr. Brainwash Pop-Up Show at old CBS Studios, Hollywood, CA |
| Will Rise, Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA |
| 2007 |
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| Saber (solo exhibition), FIDM Museum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| Close Encounters (solo exhibition), White Walls Gallery, San Francisco CA |
| All Writes Reserved: RETNA, REVOK & SABER, Powerhouse Gallery, New York, NY |
| Letters First, Barcelona, Spain |
| Represent, Represent: The Tempt One Art Benefit, URB Gallery, Culver City, CA |
| BRAVE Art, Encinitas, CA |
| Skin Vandals, Gallery Anno Domini, San Jose, CA |
| Dream Girls Art Show, Mina Dresden Gallery, San Francisco, California |
| 2006 |
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| Letters First, Tokyo – Taipei |
| Superiority Complex, (curated by Saber), SCION Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| L.A. Reprazent, Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| Art Work Rebels, Cachi Gallery, San Francisco, CA |
| Saber & David Choe, Montana Shop & Gallery, Barcelona, Spain |
| Scion Road Trip, traveling exhibition |
| 2005 |
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| L.A.: light/ motion/ dreams, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA |
| L.A. vs. Brazil, 222 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| Saber, Norm, Amanda Lynn, Joe Leonard & Reyes, Upper Playground, San Francisco, CA |
| Soothsayers, Scion installation L.A., Los Angeles, CA |
| Installation: Scion Art Tour, McCaig-Welles Gallery, Brooklyn, NY |
| 2004 |
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| 100 Artists See Satan, Grand Central Arts Center, Fullerton, CA |
| Installation: Scion Art Tour, Track 16, Santa Monica, CA |
| gra (FF) ite, Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |
| Nuevo Abo, Subject Matter Gallery, Costa Mesa CA |
| Mad Society King (solo exhibition), Subject Matter Gallery, Costa Mesa CA |
| Installation: Scion Art Tour, Studio Soto, Boston, MA |
| 2003 |
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| Installation: Scion Art Tour, traveling exhibition |
| Still Alive, Subject Matter Gallery, Costa Mesa CA |
| Ayer RIP – Subject Matter Gallery, Costa Mesa CA |
| Street Dreams – Ghetto Gloss Gallery, Los Angeles CA |
| Start Soma – Coachella Gallery, San Francisco CA |
| Obey/Saber – Subject Matter Gallery, Costa Mesa CA |
| 2002 |
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| Spray Can Art – Quark Hotel, Milan Italy |
| Contemporary Corruption II – Zero One Gallery, Los Angeles CA |
| Mary Magdalene Project – Stark-Kikuchi Gallery, Santa Monica CA |
| Street Dreams – Ghetto Gloss Gallery, Los Angeles CA |
| Contemporary Corruption I – Zero One Gallery, Los Angeles CA |
| Bibliography |
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| Books |
| Art in the Streets, Jeffrey Deitch, Roger Gastman, Aaron Rose, Skira Rizzoli, 2011 |
| The History of American Graffiti, Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon, Harper Design, 2001 |
| Beyond the Street: The 100 Leading Figures in the Urban Art Movement, Patrick Nguyen and Stuart Mackenzie (ed.), Gestalten Press, 2010 |
| Saber: Mad Society by Roger Gastman (ed.), Ginko Press, 2007 (2nd edition released May 2010) |
| Los Angeles Graffiti: Urban Angels Unite the Masses in America's Anti-city by Roger Gastman and Sonja Teri, Mark Batty Publishers, 2007 |
| Graffiti L.A.: Street Styles and Art by Steve Grody, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2007 |
| The History of American Graffiti, Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon, Harper Design, 2001 |
| Periodicals |
| "'Art in the Streets' at MOCA: This Artweek.LA (April 18-24)," Bill Bush, The Huffington Post, April 19, 2011 |
| "Saber of The Seventh Letter Crew at MOCA 'Art in The Streets'," Hypebeast, April 18, 2011 |
| "Art in the Streets," Fitted Hawaii, April 18, 2011 |
| "Art in the Streets Recap," We Love Creativity, April 17, 2011 |
| "Art in the Streets - Geffen Contemporary at MOCA," A Healthy Design, April 16, 2011 |
| "Art in the Streets at MOCA," LA.com, April 16, 2011 |
| "Art in the Streets Preview," The Art Muse, April 15, 2011 |
| "Focus: Osgemeos - 'Art in the Streets' @ MOCA," Arrested Motion, April 15, 2011 |
| "Graffiti on Gallery Walls at MOCA's 'Art in the Streets'," Good Design, April 15, 2011 |
| "MOCA's 'Art in the Streets' Exhibition," Highsnobiety, April 15, 2011 |
| "Art in the Streets Preview," Trina Calderon, Lipstick Tracez, April 15, 2011 |
| "Art review: 'Art in the Streets' at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA," Culture Monster, Los Angeles Times, April 15, 2011 |
| "Red Hot and Street: 'Art in the Streets' Brings Fire to MOCA," Jamie Roja and Steven Harrington, The Huffington Post, April 14, 2011 |
| "MOCA Line Up Part 2," FatCap, April 13, 2011 |
| "Charlie Ahearn Talks About the Art in the Streets Exhibition Opening at MOCA This Weekend," Amoeblog, April 14, 2011 |
| “The Seventh Letter,” Frank151 Media Group, Frank Book: Chapter 41, Summer 2010 |
| “Deitch looks back on Deitch Projects,” Tim Griffin, Art Forum Magazine, June 2010 |
| “Interview: SABER”, Khoi, Arrested Motion, posted July 27, 2010 |
| “The New Modern Art,” Dave Hickey, Playboy Magazine, Jan./Feb.2010 |
| “Saber: MSK,” Madsteez, Bliss Magazine (cover story), Sept. 2009 |
| “Saber: Growing Up Into Graffiti,” My Name Is… Magazine, Issue #3, April 2009 |
| “Bombs Away,” Willie G., Inked Magazine, Feb. 2009 |
| “Perspective, ” Juxtapoz Magazine, Jan. 2009 |
| “Saber: How 97 Gallons of Paint Changed One Man’s Life Forever”, by Roger Gastman and Caleb -Neelson, Juxtapoz Magazine, Seventh Letter Issue, no. 78, July 2007: 68-77 |
| “Leading Youth Wireless Provider Partners with Living Legend of Los Angeles Street Art Offering Exclusive Content to Customers,” Business Wire, March 26, 2007 |
| “Saber: Heavy Metal Magazine Meets H.R. Giger”, by Shelly Leopold, LA Weekly, Vol. 29, No. 34, July 13-19 2007: 32 – 40 |
| “The Seventh Letter”, WARP Magazine, Issue 132, volume 6, 2007: 46-47 |
| “Alfresco” by Cynthia Dea, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 8, 2007 |
| “Follow the Leaders: Saber,” Maclean Jackson, Mass Appeal magazine, 10th anniversary Issue #41, 2006: 96-97 |
| “LA Art,” Kana Yoshioka, Warp Magazine Japan, vol. 4, Issue 118, 2006: 28B-31B |
| “Saber,” Warp Magazine Japan, Issue 116, Feb. 2006: 147-152 |
| “Saber”, by Caleb Neelson, Swindle Magazine, First Annual Icons Issue, 2006: 156-157 |
| “Informer: Alpha Male Intelligence”, Maxim Magazine, Issue 107, Nov. 2006: 30-31 |
| “The Road to New Orleans: The Artist Bus,” Scion Magazine, Issue 8, Summer/Fall 2006: 34-41 |
| “Saber tC,” Scion Magazine, Issue 7, Winter/Spring 2006: 60 |
| “Infamy,” Zio, Vapors All City Magazine, Issue 29, 2005: 68-69 |
| “Saber: R-Tist Profile,” Tal Cooperman, Happy magazine, June 2003: 98-101 |
| “Parting Shot,” URB magazine, March 2003 |
| “The Call to the Streets V: L.A. Takedown,” Graphotism, Issue #29, 2003: |
| “Graff Paper,” Juxtapoz magazine, Issue #41, Nov./Dec. 2001: 20 |
| “Graff Paper,” Juxtapoz magazine, Issue #32, May/June 2001: 14 |
| “Welcome to the World of AWR-MSK: A brief history lesson on the L.A. Graff Scene, Mass Appeal magazine, 2001: 30-35 |
| “Saber AWR takes care of business “for real,” BigTime magazine, vol. 2, Issue 5, 2000: 14-16 |
| “Des Teufels Gottliche Bomber AWR: Angels Will Rise”, Juice Magazine Germany, Dec. 1999 |
| “Graff Pages: A Great day on the Walls,” Ben Higa, Rap Pages Magazine, Dec. 1999: 38-39 |
| “Graff Pages: Size Does Matter,” Gesture, Rap Pages magazine, Nov. 1998: 30-31 |
| “Graf Pages,” Rap Pages magazine, August 1997: 42-43 |
| “Graff Pages,” Rap Pages Magazine, June 1997: 34-35 |
| “Graf Pages,” Rap Pages magazine, April 1997: 30-31 |
| “L.A.’s Most Up? L.A.’s Most Wanted? Three of California’s Busiest Talk with Can Control,” Timothy Treacy, Can Control magazine, 1995 |
| Other media appearances: |
| WireImage listing for MOCA Art In The Streets - Artists' Opening at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Los Angeles, CA, April 14, 2011 |
| Saber Interviewed on The Dylan Ratigan Show, MSNBC, Jan. 2010 *Regarding OFA Video, Healthcare Reform and 1st Amendment |
| Tattoo Wars, Guy Aitchson vs. Aaron Cain, season 1, TLC 2007 |
| Infamy: A Graffiti Film, Doug Pay (Dir.), Image Entertainment, 2005 *Saber is 1 of 6 stars in the film |
| Corporate Projects: |
| Live painting the Karmaloop booth at the Cable TV Convention, Los Angeles, CA 2010 |
| Hand-painted limited edition calfskin tote bags, Luxury Loves Company, 2010 |
| Images licensed to GelaSkins, 2009-present |
| “Architects of Inspiration” booth, collaboration with Roland Sands Design, ASR Tradeshow, San Diego, CA, 2008 |
| Designed art for the Scion booth for the 2008 travelling to US Car Conventions Mural in the entrance lobby of the LA Weekly building, Culver City, CA 2008 |
| Special limited edition spray paint can, Montana Paint Company, 2008 |
| Limited Edition 1:24 scale Scion xB’s, 3 unique cars feature designs by SABER created especially for this project, Maisto custom shop/ SCION, 2008 |
| Art Content Collaboration, Boost Mobile, LLC, 2007 |
| “Speak Freely” ad campaign for LA Weekly, Ignited Minds Agency, 2006 (Won Best Integrated Campaign/ Belding Awards for Advertising Excellence in 2007) |
| “Road to New Orleans” Scion Road Trip, Summer 2006 |
| Saber custom paint job, designed hood, wheels, interior and grill on a Scion tC, featured at SEMA Convention, 2006 |
| Scion nationwide radio ad, 2006 |