About

 

 Manifesto

We are RareKind

We are graffiti artists, designers, illustrators and ‘mark-makers’. We are non-conformists yet entrepreneurs; we are revolutionary yet have respect for the past; we have been around for decades but we are reclaiming the future.

Our work is dictated by no-one and we are dedicated to art and artists who have paid their dues in the world of graffiti, be it out in the cold at 4.00am, pouring over a black book for hours working on outlines or simply through spreading the word about real graffiti art.

A generation of new ‘graffiti artists’ is growing up with the scene handed to them on a plate. It is ‘sugar-coated’ for those who can draw a gas mask on Photoshop and most crucially, the creative competition is being played out on the Internet not in the streets or Halls of Fame and if unchecked, the future of the scene is ultimately doomed.

RareKind do not intend to stamp out the ‘urban art’ scene, we respect everyone’s right to be creative whatever form it takes. We simply intend to take back our title of Graffiti Art and shine a light on the work of original painters who have been overlooked for too long while others, with commercial ‘sellability’ or financial backing, jam-bust their way in to galleries on their first attempt at producing work and take credit for a scene which was around long before they (or Photoshop) were.

RareKind is committed to the purity of the art form. Drawing on almost 30 years of UK graffiti art we combine a ‘nod to the past’ with new techniques and a fresh look. Letterforms, characterisation, line, colour, free-hand painting and originality of subject matter are fundamental elements, which are found 100% at RareKind.

No longer will graffiti art be solely associated with the Hip Hop scene, trendy advertising campaigns or Banksy-esque images, which have become a public perception. We are shouting from the rooftops that Graffiti is an art form in it’s own right and that this is and always will be; This Life We Live, This Life We Love….

 

RareKind are a collective of innovative, professional artists based in London who apply their fresh artistic talents and expertise to a variety of projects and are going form strength to strength, pushing forward the urban art scene.

Opened in 2002, the RareKind Gallery hosts an amalgamation of Brit born original urban art, of which is mainly Graffiti and Hip Hop orientated. The RareKind gallery exhibits free-hand spray painted canvases in all sizes and styles, exclusive ranges of screen printed clothing produced by select graffiti artists, hand painted clothing by The RareKind Family, as well as tailor-made commission based projects.

RareKind’s success has been growing continuously over the years and is being broadly recognised as the leader in our field. 2005’s prestigious Brighton and Hove business awards nominated Rarekind for excellence in Creative Industries.

This success has reflected in the commissions taking place now, and over the last few years which include ongoing contracts for murals at corporate offices in London, events including the 2005 MOBO Music Awards, The Brighton Fringe Festival, and Goodwood 2006. Work to date also includes private commissions for Universities, celebrity homes, and public spaces including bars and restaurants around the UK and abroad.

An experienced and eloquent public speaker, owner of RareKind, David Samuel has also been invited to represent the art form at several discussions and tutorials including BBC News, The London Letter Exchange and Essex University. David also starred in an episode of Channel 4’s Faking It, in which he succeeded in turning an upper class history of art student into a convincing Graffiti Artist. This has proved to be one of the most popular episodes of the programme and has been aired as far a field as Australia.

2009 see’s RareKind coming back home to their city of London and opening a Gallery in the new Chrome & Black Store on Bethnal Green Road, Shorditch, just at the end of Brick Lane. This new space will be jam packed all year with fresh art from London and worldwide graffiti artists.