the ESSENCE
From 10 April 2026, STRAAT presents the ESSENCE, an exhibition exploring the cultural meaning and foundations of graffiti.
The exhibition focuses on the core elements of graffiti: names, tags, lines and repetition as the building blocks of a visual system. Line, form, flow and rhythm come together in an autonomous visual language driven by movement and the urge to mark presence.
To mark the opening of the ESSENCE, legendary New York graffiti pioneer Bill Blast aka Wise (William Cordero) will create new work at STRAAT. On Saturday April 11, he will be interviewed at STRAAT, followed by a blackbook signing session.
artist at work: Bill Blast
From 7 to 9 April, legendary New York graffiti pioneer Bill Blast aka Wise (William Cordero) will be working at STRAAT on a new piece to mark the opening of the exhibition the ESSENCE.
blackbooksession: Bill Blast
On Saturday 11 April, New York graffiti pioneer Bill Blast aka Wise (William Cordero) will be a guest at STRAAT.
The exhibition the ESSENCE will be on view from Friday April 10, and can be visited with a regular museum admission.
For the ESSENCE, STRAAT collaborates with the Dutch Graffiti Library. Within this multi-year partnership, a selection of works from the collection will be permanently presented at the museum. STRAAT provides the international museum context, while the Dutch Graffiti Library contributes more than 35 years of archives, research and collection related to graffiti culture.