With its blazing rhythms, bold images and swooping shapes, graffiti struck the streets of New York City over 30 years ago. Since then, it has become a celebrated global phenomenon, recently making its mark on the streets of Tehran, Iran and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Featured in VISUAL SLANG 2008 and exhibited for the first time in the US are eight original pieces by the legendary Iranian street artist A1one. Renowned for introducing modern graffiti to the Islamic world, A1one creates intricate playful graphics evoking the cultural landscape of his country, along with iconic social statements.

The streets of Tel Aviv have also emerged as a canvas for lively, often satirical, images. VISUAL SLANG 2008 introduces the innovative artwork of Ame72, Know Hope, Klone, Smiling Bag Productions and Zero Cents who have transformed the environs of their adopted city within the past few years.

Also featured for the first time in NYC in VISUAL SLANG 2008 are the stylish and striking works of Gola, Kenor, Ovni, Pez and Tom14 of the Barcelona-based Martinez Crew whose inventive abstract forms and designs advance graffiti beyond its traditional mode.

Other featured artists include: C215, Cekis, Lorenzo Gomez, Adi Mahalu, Noa Mahalu, Mateo, Kenji Nakayama, Onesto, Johan Potma, Julio Rölle, and Stinkfish. Among those artists representing NYC are Cern, Cope2, Chris Cortes, Indie184, Meres, and Spaze Crafte