The Walter Art Gallery, 6425 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale, presents “Subway Rush,” the solo show of Charles Giglia also known as SAR.

“Subway Rush” from the renowned artist opened on May 20, according to a press release, detailing the artist’s background and works.

Giglia was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in south Queens. He adopted the graffiti name SAR in 1977 and began writing in true graffiti form inside and outside of New York City trains.

His raw subway style is transformed onto canvas, paper, and metal in works capturing the color, energy, and style of art permeated through the New York City subway system from the late 1970s to the 1990s, the release said.

Using the preferred term for graffiti artists, SAR was in the famous crews “The Master Blasters” and “Rolling Thunder Writers.” Considered a historian of Brooklyn mass transit graffiti from his Queens neighborhood, his work has been published in numerous magazines and books.

In 1991, SAR was featured in a Rap video by The Lords of Brooklyn titled "Bombing the System." In the 1990s, SAR was also featured in the graffiti documentaries, "Video Graff 2" and "Video Graff 3." He also worked on set graffiti for the movie, “Sleepers.”

SAR’s recent works have sold at the prestigious Art Curial and Tajan Auctions in Paris. His work was also featured in New York City this year at the Queens Graffiti Legends show at the Village Works Gallery.

His artwork can be found in the private collection of the Groninger Museum in Holland and Galerie Salvador in France. The Galerie Salvador collection was presented at the Halle Saint Pierre Museum in Paris, France, February 2022.

“Subway Rush” will run through June 17, with a closing reception from 6:30 to 9 p.m, the release noted. The show can also be viewed by appointment by emailing  gallery@thewalterhive.org.

Information about The Walter Art Gallery: walter-art.com AZ