Martha Cooper has spent decades immortalizing art that is often overlooked, and usually illegal. Her first book, 1984’s »Subway Art« is affectionately referred to by graffiti artists as the »bible«. To create Spray Nation, Cooper and editor Roger Gastman pored through hundreds of thousands of 35mm Kodachrome slides, painstakingly selecting and digitizing them. They are accompanied by heartfelt essays celebrating Cooper’s drive, spirit, and singular vision.

The images capture a gritty New York era that is gone forever. And although the original pieces have been lost, these resplendent photos feel as immediate and powerful as a subway train thundering down the tracks.