Gallery K31
FROM TRAIN TO CANVAS. FROM GRAFFITI KINGS TO GALLERY ICONS.
The K31 gallery, founded in 2004 by Molotow, made a significant contribution to the recognition and establishment of graffiti art in the official art world. It was the first gallery to present graffiti exclusively in a respected artistic context – a bold step that elevated graffiti from its subculture to the mainstream art world. The exhibition at the time attracted prominent artists such as TOAST, Codeak, CMP, CES, DARE, ECB, Loomit, MACrew, Mason, Mr. Green, and SEAK. Their works are now recognized as icons of the scene and are extraordinarily expensive.
In the years that followed, graffiti art gained increasing recognition in the art world. A key figure in this development was the famous collector and patron Gunther Sachs. In a remarkable move, he had the Schloss Velden hotel in Austria designed by graffiti artists DARE and TOAST – an unprecedented honor for the graffiti scene. The commission to cover the entire interior of the castle with graffiti marked a significant turning point. The report on this project, published in the magazine “AD” in September 2007, documents Sachs’ fascination with graffiti and the artistic value of this form. In the article, Sachs stated: “Graffiti truly stems from an underground movement… and offers fascinating tricks and rituals.” With this step, he gave a powerful boost to the recognition of graffiti as a serious art form.
Similarly, the K31 gallery had early on created a platform to honor and promote the works of such artists. DARE was appointed curator of the first graffiti exhibition and, as a multiplier, became an important link in the global graffiti scene.
After DARE’s death in 2010, a significant turning point occurred, not only in the graffiti scene but also for the K31 gallery. The “TRIBUTE TO DARE” exhibition, in which artists who had collaborated with DARE over the years paid tribute to him with personal canvas dedications, marked the end of an era. The exhibition was a significant tribute to the artist, whose influence had shaped graffiti art not only locally but also globally. At the same time, however, this exhibition marked the end of the K31 gallery’s active exhibition series. DARE’s death and the associated exhibition left a void that extended beyond the loss of the artist. It was as if not only DARE’s art stood still in that moment, but also the gallery itself took a pause to process the deeper significance of this loss.
A Tribute to the Giants of Graffiti.
In a way, the closure of the gallery after this final exhibition reflected the end of a specific era in graffiti art – a time when the gallery, as one of the few that seriously presented graffiti in an artistic context, was considered a cornerstone of the movement. The K31 gallery, which had played a pivotal role in transitioning graffiti art from its underground subculture to the mainstream art world, became not only a space for art but also a symbol of the turning point within this art form.
Although the gallery no longer hosts current exhibitions today, it remains a living monument to the development and influence of graffiti art. Its walls, once adorned with works by DARE, Toast, Loomit, and many others, tell a story of growth, recognition, and transformation. And even though the space itself has become quieter, the K31 gallery remains a historical entity that – through the memories of great moments and the artists who exhibited there – continues to embody the artistic and cultural significance of graffiti on the international art stage.
