Issue 15 will be distributed exclusively to Living Proof Members. Sent to our members for September, 2026.
SABER for Living Proof Magazine, Issue 15.
Issue 15 of Living Proof Magazine featuring: H.R., SABER MSK, Erik Ellington, Smith Street Rod and Gun Club, Wally Champs / Clarks Originals, Crack Gallery, Tadanori Yokoo, Kunichi Nomura, Addison Kirst, Last Resort AB and Adrian Douzmanian.
Issue 15 will be sent to members of Living Proof New York for the month of September 2026.
Why did you start graffiti? What gave you that bug?
I think it all comes back to my childhood. I grew up in a creative environment. Drawing helped me meditate and feel a certain way. I knew early on that’s how I had to communicate to the world. I knew I was good at it, even when I was young. Once I saw graffiti, I was blown away. It consumed me. I knew I had to chase it and figure it out.
Skateboarding was key, too. It taught me camaraderie, how to move through the world, travel, and understand places. It was a good intro into understanding urban environments, how to use them, and how to move through them. That transitioned naturally into graffiti. The first real graffiti I saw was in Venice. I was like 12. I saw a RISKY piece and just stood in front of it. I was hooked. The second I saw it, I knew I had to chase it. Then I saw the HEX and SLICK battle. After that, it was over. I knew it was dangerous, ahead of its time. The act itself carried weight.
Why graffiti over skateboarding?
The message spoke to me. The second I saw it, I knew I had to put all my energy into understanding it. The minute I discovered graffiti, everything else became secondary.
How old were you?
12 or 13. My first piece was goofy, but I knew it had a journey. I saw something great about it that I had to understand. That was the riddle, Wild Style, the language, what all this meant. The wickedness of it.
Back then, it was more of a mystery.
Yeah. You had to hunt everything down, magazines, photos, trade with people. Subway Art, Spraycan Art, all that. You’d collect it, trade it, share it. Documentation became everything. That’s how photography became tied to graffiti. Once you’re captivated, it spreads into all these different avenues.
What was LA like back then?
It was scary. It was overwhelming. I knew I was out of my depth. You had to earn permission to gain access to space by showing respect and understanding of etiquette. But the beauty was that everyone was welcome. So you’re moving through different tribes, different parts of the city, learning their stories.
Read the full interview in Living Proof Magazine Issue 15, available to Living Proof members and in our Online Shop.
Photography by Wes Knoll
