Wayne Roberts (October 20, 1950 – June 11, 2012), known as Stay High 149, was an American graffiti artist.[2][3]

Wayne Roberts
Born(1950-10-20)October 20, 1950
Emporia, Virginia, United States[1]
DiedJune 11, 2012(2012-06-11) (aged 61)
Bronx, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
Other namesStay High 149,
Superstar of Graffiti
OccupationGraffiti artist
Years active1960s – 1974
Websitestayhigh149.com

Career

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Roberts was born in Emporia, Virginia, moving to the Bronx, New York at age six.[1] He was called a "superstar" of the graffiti world in the late 1970s.[4] Widely considered to use one of the most famous graffiti tags in the world, his trademark includes a smoking version of the stick figure from 1960s British television program The Saint.[5]

Roberts collaborated with a number of well known brands during his career, including Huf, and the Burton Snowboards skate brand, Gravis.[6][7]

Roberts was featured in the 2004 documentary Just to Get a Rep by Peter Gerard.

Death

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Roberts died on June 11, 2012, from a liver disease at Calvary Hospital in The Bronx, New York.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gonzales, David (June 12, 2012). "Wayne Roberts, 'Stay High 149' in Graffiti Circles, Is Dead at 61". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  2. ^ Millor, Ivor (2002). Aerosol kingdom: subway painters of New York City. University Press of Mississippi. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-57806-465-6.
  3. ^ Pollitt, Katha (November 1982). "Rev. of Graffiti, Gays & A Dull Diary". Mother Jones Magazine. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  4. ^ Snyder, Gregory J. (2009). Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground. NYU Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-4045-3.
  5. ^ History of Graf. daveyd.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  6. ^ "HUF X STAYHIGH 149 COLLABORATION // NOW AVAILABLE". hufworldwide.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Gravis Black Box S/S 2007 Collection". SneakerFiles. January 24, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Gonzalez, David (June 12, 2012). "Wayne Roberts, 'Stay High 149' in Graffiti Circles, Is Dead at 61". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
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