An exhibition of works by Mark Bodé on original New York City subway maps.

The New York City subway is the birthplace of modern graffiti. It is the system through which style spread across the city and graffiti developed into an all city language. The maps, now gradually being phased out of circulation, stand as a nostalgic reminder of this system.

The Bodéverse played a major role in shaping the visual language of graffiti and hip hop culture. During the 1980s in New York, Vaughn Bodé’s artwork circulated through comics, flyers, album art, and street culture, becoming foundational influences on emerging graffiti and hip hop scenes. The characters themselves, including Cheech Wizard and Da’ Lizard, were adopted as the movement’s mascots, with Bodé’s visual language and anti authority attitude forming the foundation of graffiti’s aesthetic vocabulary.

In Subway, Bodé’s characters float above the city. They move across routes, stations, and neighborhoods, existing everywhere at once. Graffiti functions the same way. It is all city. By covering the map, literally and conceptually, Mark Bodé makes a direct statement. The Bodéverse is all city.

Subway runs from Thursday 12 February to Sunday 1 March 2026 at The Gallery Omotesando. A live cartoon concert will take place on 14 February. Cartoon concerts were first established by Vaughn Bodé, combining projected comics with live narration and character voices, and are continued by Mark Bodé in the traditional Bodé style.

A

‍

The Subway catalogue is now available.

‍Exhibition inquiries
info@shdw.gallery