How the West was Won

How the West was Won, 2024

by KEO XMEN

63 X 106 inches

Spray enamels on canvas

Artist Biography

KEO XMEN aka Lord Scotch 79, is a prolific graffiti writer and graphic
designer. KEO has designed logos and illustrated album covers for
notable Hip-Hop artists and labels including Kool Keith, Inspectah Deck
of the Wu-Tang Clan, EPMD and Nervous records; though perhaps best
known for his iconic artwork on Operation: Doomsday by the late MF
DOOM.

At fifteen years old, KEO had his first show at the legendary FUN Gallery
alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Richard Hambleton, DONDI,
FUTURA 2000 and HAZE. During this time, KEO spent the early 80s refining
his craft, painting subway trains on the backdrop of the burgeoning New York
Hip-Hop scene.

In 2000, KEO curated the first major auction of graffiti for Guernsey's auction
house at New York City’s Puck Building. KEO’s contributions to Hip-Hop
culture and graffiti style have been documented in many publications
including Bobito Garcia’s Where’d You Get Those, Johan Kugelberg’s Born in
the Bronx and most recently, the Smithsonian’s Anthology of Hip-Hop & Rap.
KEO has designed products and apparel for Nike, Supreme, Stussy and
Adidas, as well as created installations for Montblanc, Harley Davidson, Airbnb,
Warner Brothers and many more.

KEO’s work is focused on preserving traditional New York City subway graffiti
styles, sampling elements from pop culture, comics, and classic animation
characters. He lectures and teaches workshops at prestigious institutions
such as Columbia University, Rutgers University, and NYU. KEO also engages
the community through outreach, from the Boys and Girls Clubs to Rikers
Island Robert N. Davoren Adolescent facility. KEO currently exhibits all over
the world, most recently at The Woodbury House Gallery in London and the
STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam.

KEO lives in Brooklyn, NY.