Gauntlet Gallery — Cope2 Print Index
New York City Subway Map II (Standard Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
The 2017 standard edition of New York City Subway Map II returns Cope2 to the surface that made his name. An archival pigment print on 290gsm Moab Rag, it lays his wildstyle lettering over the transit diagram that once carried his tags across the five boroughs. At 24 x 17 inches in an edition of 75, it is an accessible entry point into his print catalog.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition Size: 75. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Few motifs bind an artist to his origin story as tightly as the subway map does for Cope2. The MTA was his gallery long before galleries were, and reclaiming the official map as a canvas closes a loop between vandalism and fine art. This second iteration signals the image resonated enough with collectors to warrant a return.
Collector Perspective
With 75 impressions and a modest original price point, this is a starter piece rather than a scarce trophy. Collectors should confirm hand-signing and numbering, and note the standard edition sits below any hand-embellished variant in desirability. The Moab Rag substrate and large format make it a strong wall piece for its tier.
Historical Context
Released in 2017, this print belongs to Cope2's mature studio period, decades removed from his 1980s Bronx bombing years. The subway map subject deliberately references that era of the transit system as an open-air canvas, a period romanticized in graffiti history yet aggressively policed by the MTA at the time.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2017
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Giclee Print; catalog dimensions 24 x 17 inches; Archival Pigment Print on 290gsm Moab Rag Fine Art Paper.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition Size: 75.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Cope2's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Released in 2017, this print belongs to Cope2's mature studio period, decades removed from his 1980s Bronx bombing years. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2017 and attributes the edition to 1xRUN.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to 1xRUN. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Cope2 — official site — Cope2 studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Cope2 — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Cope2 (Q3480203) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What distinguishes the standard edition from other versions?
The standard edition is the base run of 75 pigment prints. Hand-embellished variants, where Cope2 adds aerosol or paint by hand, are separate and scarcer.
Is this print signed?
Cope2 prints of this type are typically hand-signed and numbered. Always verify the pencil signature and edition fraction before purchase.
Why the subway map subject?
The New York City subway was Cope2's original canvas in the 1980s. Painting the official map reclaims the surface that once carried his tags.
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