Lance de los reyes

Lance De Los Reyes (1977 – November 4, 2021), also known by his graffiti name RAMBO, was an American contemporary artist and graffiti writer based in New York City. He was widely recognised for his cryptic, poetic text-based street art and his large-scale abstract paintings.

Early life and education De Los Reyes was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to Southern California during his adolescence. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute, where he studied painting, sculpture, and performance art. In the late 1990s, he lived and worked with artist Shepard Fairey for two years before relocating to New York City in 2002.

Career Graffiti (RAMBO)

Writing under the tag "RAMBO," De Los Reyes became a legendary figure in the New York graffiti scene. His work was distinctive for its "shamanistic" quality, often featuring all-caps cryptic poetry and upside-down crowns scrawled on high-profile rooftops, billboards, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Fine art After moving to New York, De Los Reyes served as an assistant to artist Donald Baechler. His studio practice transitioned from street-based text to large-scale abstract expressionist paintings. His work has been exhibited at various institutions, including The Hole, The Watermill Center, and Vito Schnabel Gallery.

Death De Los Reyes died on November 4, 2021, in New York City at the age of 44. His death was followed by numerous tributes across the global street art community. Gifts of Telepathy, Vito Schnabel Gallery, New York (2022, posthumous)