106TH STREET & PARK AVENUE · EAST HARLEM
FROM A SCHOOLYARD TO A GLOBAL LANDMARK.
The Graffiti Hall of Fame - A Living History
The Graffiti Hall of Fame began in the El Barrio section of East Harlem, at the Jackie Robinson Educational Complex playground on the corner of 106th Street and Park Avenue. What started as a local gathering place for graffiti writers quickly became a creative hub where artists could share stories, develop new styles, and build relationships. The playground walls served as a rare safe space for experimentation during a time when graffiti largely existed underground.
1980 - Founding Sting Ray Era
In 1980, Harlem community leader Ray "Sting Ray" Rodriguez formally recognized the space as the Graffiti Hall of Fame, establishing one of the first semi-authorized locations where graffiti artists could paint openly. As New York City's aggressive removal of graffiti from subway trains pushed artists above ground, the Hall became a critical safe haven for creativity, allowing the culture to continue evolving in public view.
1986 - 2025 - The Joey TDS Era
Jose "Joey TDS" Santiago* was involved with the legendary Graffiti Hall of Fame for decades, transitioning from painting on its walls to serving as its long-standing primary organizer and director. In *1986*, he officially took the helm as director and organizer, a role he held until his passing in *February 2025*.
Joey, a local artist from Spanish Harlem and member of the legendary TDS crew, began to promote the Hall as an annual community event. He organized local MCs, DJs and Breakdance crews to come out in support, shedding the stigma associated with artists deemed vandals and allowing them to showcase their raw talent. Under his direction, the slogan *"Strictly Kings and Better"* emerged as its moniker, establishing the Hall as a competition of crews to spotlight the art form's best and brightest.
1990s Revitalization and the Late 2000s - Ezo and James Top
The 1990s saw a revitalization of the yard led by style masters including *PART ONE, EZO, and TDS*, who rejuvenated the schoolyard with style and helped re-establish it as the Mecca of the movement.
James Top, founding member of the legendary Odd Partners crew and an all-city writer since the 1970s, became a *co-director for the Graffiti Hall of Fame from the late 2000s to 2019*. During this period he was actively involved in the annual event as a co-director, curator and artist alongside Joey TDS, bridging the subway-era generation with the next wave of artists.
2012 - Present - Sharif Profit Era
*Sharif "Eber" Profit* began his journey with the Hall in *2012* as a guest curator for a limited pop-up edition celebrating the *Wild Style 30th Anniversary*, while consulting for director Charlie Ahearn on recreating the legendary Wild Style mural.
In *2019, he officially joined the organization* as curator, where he created the *Art Cube Project* - 7ft x 7ft cubes installed throughout the yard to create more space for up-and-coming talent and to bridge street artists and traditional letterform writers while preserving the "Strictly Kings & Better" motto.
In *2023*, he expanded inclusion by installing a privacy fence around the park to showcase street taggers and bombers.
2024 - Street Co-Naming Milestone
In *2024*, the legacy was officially benchmarked by the City of New York with the corner of 106th & Park Avenue being named *"Graffiti Hall of Fame Way"* in recognition of its cultural impact. The historic co-naming was made possible through the dedication of the local East Harlem community and the leadership of *former NYC Council District 8 Member Diana Ayala* and community advocate *Elsie Encarnacion*.
For more than four decades, the Graffiti Hall of Fame has remained a living landmark of graffiti culture, standing on the shoulders of pioneers while continuously evolving to provide a foundation for generations of artists from New York and around the world.
