Home #WHERETONEXT USA Origins & El Tiguere: A Dual Tribute to Graffiti’s Roots and Rise

Origins & El Tiguere: A Dual Tribute to Graffiti’s Roots and Rise

The Museum of Graffiti, ranked as one of best museums in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, is celebrating its 6th anniversary during Miami Art Week with a brand new semi-permanent exhibition entitled Origins which traces the birth and evolution of the graffiti movement from its earliest days on the streets and subways of New York City to its current position as a globally recognized legitimate art form.

Guests walking into the Origins exhibit will enter through a vintage hardware store that acts as a time capsule, transporting visitors back to a time when graffiti was exclusively a DIY venture that relied upon heavy-duty industrial products for mark-making. The immersive start to the exhibit will double as a fully functioning paint store exclusively stocked with Rust-O, Rust-Oleum’s new spray paint line made specifically for artists, a highly anticipated and significant departure from the olden days.

After the immersive moment comes a major highlight of Origins, the presentation of original paintings by United Graffiti Artists (UGA) members PHASE2, FLINT 707, SNAKE 1, and COCO144, that have not been seen since their debut in 1973, marking one of the first moments graffiti entered the gallery setting. “Tracking down rare artifacts like this was always part of our mission so that the true history of graffiti can be shared in the most authentic way,” said Allison Freidin, co-founder of the Museum of Graffiti.

The modern-day representation of how far the art form has come is depicted through a major exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist JonOne (John Andrew Perello), who began his career as a graffiti writer painting trains in Harlem before rising to global recognition as a contemporary painter. JonOne’s solo exhibit El Tiguere, a Dominican street slang term evoking a hustler’s grit and resilience, will exist alongside Origins, paying tribute to JonOne’s uncompromising survival instinct gained as a child.  It will become evident that the artist leaned on dripping paint with vibrant colors to carry himself from the most humble beginnings to establishing a celebrated studio practice in Paris.

For the first time in Miami, the Museum will also feature a working studio inside the building, where JonOne will create in real time the vibrant pieces packed with movement seen around the world today. On opening day, visitors will witness a special live performance by the artist as he transforms the space with his signature energy and style.

“I have been following Jon’s artistic journey since the 1980s in New York City and marvel at what he has accomplished with his signature tag. Once vilified, we now celebrate his artistic genius,” said Alan Ket, co-founder and curator of the Museum of Graffiti.

Preliminary Schedule:

December 3 – 5, 2025 from 12PM – 6PM: Museum of Graffiti opens all exhibitions along with its outdoor interactive patio that will boast an incredible line up of top parties, brand activations, and musical talent. The patio will connect Museum of Graffiti, The Art of Hip Hop, and The Private Gallery with a ticket to the full experience at $25. Certain activities will take place all 3 days:

  • Truist Bank’s ART ATM that will dispense free limited edition giclees by New York’s legendary TATS CRU
  • Daily Rust-O Dem-O’s: Watch top aerosol talent from Miami and around the world battle head-to-head
  • Modelo’s Open Bar & 1PM Drop of the Day (see schedule below)
  • Complimentary 1-of-1 T-shirts from AS Colour customized by 4SAKN CBS
  • DryWater’s complimentary clean hydration mocktails
  • Craft cocktails with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey

DAILY SCHEDULE:

December 3, 2025

  • 12PM: First Look
  • 1PM: Modelo Drop of the Day with Slawn & Opake
  • 2PM: Bun B cooks up his Trill Burgers in partnership with Monster Energy
  • 3PM: TATS Cru Panel Discussion on the business of graffiti presented by Truist
  • 4PM: Monster Energy presents a live taping of the BET-award winning podcast Drink Champs
  • 8PM: Museum of Graffiti VIP 6 Year Anniversary Party with special guests and performances (by invitation only.) For media access contact cece@feinbergpr.com.

December 4, 2025

  • 11AM: Breakfast in Brazil: A blackbook session with Brazil’s top Pixadors Eneri, Djuan, and LIXOMANIA! zé
  • 12PM: All-day free customizations with Stay Chill Bill presented by Monster
  • 1PM: Modelo Drop of the Day with Brazil’s top Pixadors Eneri, Djuan, and LIXOMANIA! zé
  • 2PM: Shark Art with Daymond John & Friends
  • 4PM: Discussion with JonOne

December 5, 2025

  • 11AM: Doors open with DJ set by Sounds of Reality
  • 1PM: Modelo Drop of the Day
  • 2PM: ALL CAPS Live Open Call for Artists to earn your way to paint at the premiere mural festival of the Netherlands

**Schedule is subject to change and will be regularly updated on www.museumofgraffiti.com