Gauntlet Gallery — Martha Cooper Print Index
Chem Trails (Bowery Wall NYC)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Chem Trails is a 2014 photographic giclee documenting Maya Hayuk's mural on the Bowery Wall in New York, photographed by Martha Cooper. Printed on Somerset satin paper in an edition of 100 at 35.5 x 61 cm, the print is signed by Maya Hayuk, uniting the muralist's authorship with Cooper's documentary photography.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 100. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The Bowery Wall is one of New York's most closely watched public mural sites, and Hayuk's Chem Trails was a notable installation there. This edition captures that work in a collectible format signed by the muralist herself. The Cooper-Hayuk pairing gives collectors both a documentary photographer's record and the mural artist's direct endorsement.
Collector Perspective
Note the signature here is Maya Hayuk's, with Cooper credited as photographer, so buyers should understand the authorship split. Somerset satin is a respected fine-art paper; inspect for handling marks along the wide 61 cm format. The Bowery Wall association is a strong talking point and helps situate the edition within a well-known public art lineage.
Historical Context
The Bowery Wall at Houston Street has hosted rotating murals since the 1980s, from Keith Haring onward, becoming a landmark of New York public art. Maya Hayuk's brightly patterned Chem Trails took its turn on the wall, and Cooper's photograph preserves it. The print reflects the collaborative documentation culture surrounding these temporary installations.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2014
- 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 35.5 x 61 cm; Photographic Gyclee print on somerset satin.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 100.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Martha Cooper'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: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2014 and attributes the edition to Maya Hayuk (Self Released).
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 Maya Hayuk (Self Released). 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.
- Martha Cooper — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Martha Cooper (Q448601) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Who signed this print?
It is signed by Maya Hayuk, the muralist, with Martha Cooper credited as the photographer.
What is the edition size?
It is an edition of 100.
What paper and size is used?
It is a giclee print on Somerset satin paper, measuring 35.5 x 61 cm.
What does the title refer to?
Chem Trails is the title of Maya Hayuk's mural on the Bowery Wall in New York City that the print documents.
Related Martha Cooper Works
