United Graffiti Artists
Established 1973 in N.Y.C.
Hugo and Herb saw it early on: an art form both new and ancient. Coming from young street kids with no art training— no particular exposure to art history, no arts and crafts, no painting classes—none of the bougie stuff. And of course there was the renegade aspect to it. Very fashionable in the 70s.
In 1972 Hugo Martinez and Herb Migdoll started UGA. They didn’t know what the hell they were doing, but . . .
They both knew one thing: they were gonna bring the Graffiti phenomenon to the world.
Some of the ORIGINAL members of UGA:
Phase 2 • StayHigh • Stitch • Mico • Coco • Flint 707 • Lee 163d • Snake • Bama (Amrl) • Charmin • Bug 170
Apologies to those I’m forgetting. It’s been a very long time.
Here’s the straight-up, no-frills history of the United Graffiti Artists, N.Y.C.:
In the early 1970s both Hugo Martinez & Herb Migdoll were taking note of the Graff movement growing out of the Bronx and spreading through the other boroughs. Nothing could have spread the Graff movement wider and faster than subway trains.
below: Four founding members—Mico, Snake, Flint 707, Bama/Amrl—at an early UGA exhibit in Manhattan.
UGA members in 1973. Standing at top is founder / organizer Hugo Martinez.
Ever wonder who’s REALLY the first female graff artist? There she is in the front row—Charmin 65 in 1973. (She’s in the black and white published image too.)
top row: Mike 171, Hugo M.
middle row: Ray-B954, Cat 87, Cano (or Rican?) JecStar,
bottom row: Coco, Rick II, Charmin, SJK
Cover of the 1975 UGA catalog (above)
List of active members inside catalog (below)