Futura 2000 in agnès b.’s collection since 1984

April 25 – October 19, 2025

« Futura has a unique ability to blend painting, graffiti and abstract art. What he creates is more than just graffiti, it’s a true visual language. »
agnès b.

« agnès b. has always believed in me, and enabled me to get out of the graffiti scene and express myself elsewhere, in a more extended environment. She has always had the ability to see art above all else, without prejudice. »
Futura

La Fab. is honored to present Futura in a major retrospective featuring more than 60 key works by this iconic artist from the New York graffiti movement.

Drawing from agnès b.’s private collection, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to trace the evolution of a visionary artist who, since the 1980s, has continually challenged traditional graffiti conventions, pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. Futura, also known as Leonard McGurr (born 1955, New York), has pioneered work which opens a dialogue between abstraction and expression, bridging the gap between urban and institutional art.

From April 24 to October 20, 2025, La Fab. presents a landmark retrospective, immersing us in Futura’s singular world—an artist whose influence spans generations and continues to shape the landscape of contemporary art.

A foundational meeting: the unbreakable bond between Futura and agnès b.

The artist’s journey has been closely intertwined with agnes b.’s since the late 1980s, a pivotal
moment which saw street art gradually enter the realm of contemporary art. For Futura, their
encounter was transformative, marking a milestone in his career. “Agnès has always supported
street art. I was incredibly lucky to meet her at the end of the ’80s. She allowed me to keep
creating, to continue painting, and made my life in Paris much easier” he recalls.
For her part, agnès b. expresses deep admiration: “Futura is a virtuoso. He has mastered the spray
can like no one else. He is a legendary figure, a god to all graffiti artists.” Her support goes
beyond mere recognition, it translates into concrete action. In 1989, La Galerie du Jour became
one of the first spaces to exhibit Futura’s work—an act of true pioneering spirit, marking his
transition from the streets to galleries and museums. Art dealer Yvon Lambert even remarked to
agnès b., “I think he’s truly an artist for you.” This pivotal support helped establish an ongoing
dialogue between street art and institutional art, a cause that Agnès b. has championed with
unwavering dedication ever since.

Abstraction as language: Futura’s creative genius

Futura’s work is defined by a bold and radical approach, seamlessly blending abstraction, action
painting, and dynamic fluidity. From his earliest compositions, he broke away from traditional
graffiti conventions, moving beyond lettering to explore geometric and organic forms. Lenny’s
Lesson (1984), the centerpiece of this retrospective, epitomizes this evolution, marking a pivotal
transition from graffiti to a purely abstract artistic practice. agnès b.’s acquisition of Lenny’s Lesson
in 1984, through art dealer Tony Shafrazi, signaled the beginning of a new chapter in the history
of graffiti. Shafrazi—renowned for championing urban artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith
Haring, and Futura himself—played a key role in bringing graffiti into the contemporary art world.
With his signature fine lines, ethereal shapes, and organic compositions—reminiscent of atoms,
molecules, or mechanical structures—Futura constructs a visual universe where abstraction serves as
a conduit for philosophical inquiry and social commentary. His fluid execution, a defining trait of
his artistic identity, echoes influences ranging from abstract expressionism to science fiction, while
drawing on the visual language of the Cold War and the technological revolutions that shaped his
era.

A work in transition: from graffiti to contemporary art

This retrospective brings together works by Futura created between 1984 and 2025, tracing his
continuous evolution both in graffiti and as an artist in his own right. His work is deeply rooted in
social issues, personal activism, and contemporary history, addressing urgent and fundamental
topics such as police violence, systemic racism, and the oppression of minorities. These themes
resonate in his paintings, where shapes and colors engage in a dialogue with the social and
political landscapes he navigates. Far from being confined to an urban practice, Futura has
successfully embraced new media, constantly pushing the boundaries of graffiti and redefining it at
the intersection of art, design and popular culture. His collaborations with brands like Kenzo, Nike,
Marc Jacobs, Off-White and Dr. Martens have expanded his reach, further establishing graffiti as a
multidimensional art form.

Through both his collaborations and personal work, Futura has successfully maintained artistic
relevance whilst continuously pushing the limits of expression. As the artist himself puts it, “The web
is an extension of graffiti. It has become a virtual wall where everyone can write,” highlighting his
connection to new forms of digital visual communication.