Gauntlet Gallery — Cope2 Print Index
N161 Street Station / Yankee Stadium (Blue Variant)
Summary
"N161 Street Station / Yankee Stadium (Blue Variant)" is a 2017 hand-embellished 3-color screen print by Cope2 on 370gsm Sirio Ultra Black fine art paper at 28 x 20 inches. The blue variant is limited to just 5 examples within the broader edition of 25, making it an especially scarce colorway.
Why It Matters
With only 5 blue variants available, this is among the rarest configurations in Cope2's print catalog. The 161st Street / Yankee Stadium station sits deep in the Bronx, Cope2's home borough, and the hand embellishment ensures each of the five copies carries unique painted intervention on dramatic black stock.
Collector Perspective
Five copies is trophy-level scarcity for a hand-embellished print. The Bronx station subject carries personal resonance given Cope2's origins, and the Sirio Ultra Black substrate maximizes contrast. Verify the blue-variant designation, the embellishment, and the signature; documentation of the 5-copy variant is essential to provenance.
Historical Context
The 161st Street / Yankee Stadium stop anchors the Bronx, the borough where graffiti and Cope2's own career began. Naming this station returns the artist to home ground, and the 2017 hand-embellished blue variant treats that homecoming as a rare, near-unique object.
FAQ
How rare is the blue variant?
Only 5 blue variants are available within the broader edition of 25.
What makes each unique?
It is hand-embellished, so each of the five copies carries unique painted touches.
Why is the station significant?
161st Street / Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, Cope2's home borough and graffiti's birthplace.
What paper and size?
28 x 20 inches on 370gsm Sirio Ultra Black fine art paper.
About the Artist
Cope2 (Fernando Carlo, born 1968 in the Bronx, New York) is a graffiti writer who began tagging New York City subway trains in the late 1970s. A veteran of the transit-era writing scene, he built his reputation through prolific throw-ups and bombing before transitioning to gallery work and canvases. His signature bubble-lettered tag has appeared worldwide, and he has collaborated with brands including Adidas, Time magazine, and Converse. Cope2 remains an active figure bridging old-school New York graffiti culture with the contemporary urban-art market.
Collecting Cope2 at Gauntlet Gallery
What should I look for when buying a Cope2 print?
Focus on hand-signed and numbered screen prints or giclees, ideally released through recognized publishers or the artist directly. Check the edition size, the pencil signature, and any embossed or blindstamp marks. Spray-painted originals on canvas or found objects command higher prices but require closer provenance review. At Gauntlet Gallery, each Cope2 piece is documented with its edition details and condition notes.
How is a Cope2 work authenticated?
Cope2 works are typically authenticated through the issuing publisher's certificate of authenticity, the hand signature, and traceable provenance from a gallery or the artist's studio. Because his tag has been widely imitated, matching a signed print to a documented edition is the most reliable path. Gauntlet Gallery pairs each work with its supporting documentation and does not claim any third-party authority the artist does not use.
What drives value in Cope2 works?
Value is driven by medium (unique spray-painted originals over open editions), edition scarcity, condition, and cultural significance tied to his subway-era history. Early or historically documented pieces and notable brand collaborations carry premiums. Signed, numbered, low-edition prints in excellent condition hold value best on the secondary market.