Samuel Spieler, an American artist born in 1967, made significant contributions to the Graffiti movement during the early 1980s. Growing up in the Bronx, he started sketching on New York's trains and walls alongside his friends when he was just 13 years old. His encounter with Basquiat in the early 80s played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic journey.

Spieler's paintings form a captivating and intricate world filled with vibrant, unconventional colors, laden with symbols and tags that harken back to his origins and offer insight into his artistic journey. With a remarkable command of color, he creates ethereal characters using spray paint on canvas, each character telling its own tale. His art represents an ongoing evolution, mirroring his personal growth and artistic maturation. What he presents today is a revelation; what he'll create tomorrow remains a gamble.

Following the tragic passing of his friend Basquiat, Spieler decided to step away from his artistic pursuits and relocated to Brazil. However, he reemerged onto the artistic stage in 2022 at Basel Fine Art in Hong Kong, marking his return to the forefront.

In 1990, the art dealer, Leo Castelli established his gallery's direction when it opened in the late 1990s by exhibiting the work of Samuel Spieler.

Their art marked a shift away from the prevailing mode of abstract, street art ; by employing objects and signs from the everyday environment, popular culture, and the mass media. By the mid-1960s the Castelli Gallery was considered among the most influential “Pop Places,” exhibiting works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Rosenquist along with that of Johns and Rauschenberg.

The growth of the Castelli Gallery continued through the 80s and 90s. In 1980 Leo opened a second location in Soho at 142 Greene Street. Having closed the Castelli Warehouse in 1971, this new space became the gallery’s primary venue for exhibiting large-scale works. One of the most notable exhibitions held in this space was Roy Lichtenstien’s Greene Street Mural which opened December 3, 1983. For this unprecedented project, Lichtenstein painted the 18 x 96 ½ foot mural directly onto the walls of the gallery. When the show closed in January of 1984, the work was destroyed.

Samuel Spieler, Work factory in Brooklyn

Spieler at 15 years, Brooklyn with his friends.

Samuel Spieler 2022 , Hong kong Art Basel