Eric Orr

Eric Orr is an artist from New York City. He pioneered the substitutive style of graffiti art in the late '70s, eschewing "writing" in favour of visual iconography, and in the process, created the distinctive robot that would become his signature and alter-ego. In 1986, he created and published four issues of his "Rappin' Max Robot" comic book which went on to become the world's first Hip-Hop comic book.

He has designed and illustrated images, covers, and logos for musical artists including Jazzy Jay, Busy Bee, Positive K, Jazzy Joyce, Masters Of Ceremony, Ultimate Force, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, and Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.); worked with and exhibited alongside such notables as Futura, Seen, Doze, and Kaws; and his work has been featured in publications including Juxtapoz, Mass Appeal, Sketchel, Complex, and the International Graffiti Times. In 2014, his personal archives were acquired by Cornell University for the Hip-Hop collection in their archive of rare books and manuscripts, and in 2015, Columbia University added copies of his works to their permanent collection.

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Eric Orr x Keith Haring - Untitled tvs

It has been 40 years since Orr and Haring collaborated in the New York Subway so we thought it would be the perfect time and way to celebrate. The edition is a recreation of the piece they created together in 1984 taken from a polaroid of the work in the subway.

Eric collaborated with pop artist Keith Haring on a series of drawings in the New York City subways that featured his "Max Robot head" character alongside Haring's iconic "radiant baby". He is the only artist to ever collaborate with Keith Haring in the subways.

"Two different size chalks were used. I used the thicker chalk and Keith used the thinner chalk to create our series of collaborative drawings. 

When I first started drawing in the subway ad spaces I wanted to make sure people would know that it was a different artist creating drawings in those spaces so I opted for a thicker chalk. The kind the kids would use drawing in the streets (known here as sidewalk chalk).

Keith, when he started drawing in the subway, he would use classroom chalk. The same thin chalk that a teacher would use on a classroom blackboard."

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Selected works

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Past Exhibitions

  • Eric Orr - Back to Basics
    21 May 2021

    Stowe Gallery is delighted to be the first UK gallery to represent the NYC based artist Eric Orr. His show in 2021 “Back to Basics” showcased a collection of original artworks, each with a particular history inspired by the series of drawings Eric did with Keith Haring in the NYC subways circa ‘84 whilst also sharing similarities to the pieces shown alongside Basquiat and Haring in NYC.

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