STRAAT Museum Offers a Unique Insight into the Artistic Journey of South African Street Artist Faith XLVII and Her Family

Amsterdam, March 24th, 2025

STRAAT Museum announces ORIGINS: Family & Legacy, an exhibition celebrating the creative journey of South African street artist Faith XLVII (Faith47). Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in contemporary street art, Faith is joined by her son, rising star Keya Tama, and Keya’s father, the coveted artist and tattooist Tyler B. Murphy. The exhibition will be on view from April 18 to June 8, 2025 and contains new pieces created especially for the exhibition.

ORIGINS: Family & Legacy is the first presentation to bring together Faith XLVII, Keya Tama, and Tyler B. Murphy, presenting an intimate collection of memorabilia, solo and collaborative sketches, paintings, drawings, and tapestries. Led by the matriarchal force of Faith XLVII, it offers a rare glimpse into the family’s shared artistic journey. The exhibition will also introduce two new mural-scale canvases, created specifically for STRAAT’s collection.

Three Artists, One Legacy
Faith XLVII is a pioneering force in global street art, evolving from large-scale murals to sculpture, video, tapestry, drawing, and painting. Tyler B. Murphy emerged in the mid-’90s as a key figure in South Africa’s graffiti scene and is now a respected tattoo artist, sign painter, and muralist. Their son, Keya Tama, carries the legacy forward with a distinctive style blending surrealism and folklore, creating murals worldwide and studio works from his New York home base.

New Works for the Permanent Collection
STRAAT Museum is proud to add a significant new work by Faith XLVII to its growing collection. For the first time, the museum will also feature a collaborative father-son canvas by Tyler B. Murphy and Keya Tama, marking a unique contribution to STRAAT’s collection. These works will be displayed in the main hall, joining over 180 large-scale pieces by international artists.

Two New Risograph Books
Expanding on the exhibition’s themes of family and creativity, STRAAT will also release two risograph-printed books: Alpha Omega, a collaborative alphabet book featuring art by Faith XLVII and Tyler B. Murphy, with writing by Faith and her mother, Claire; and The Book of Animals, an imaginative collection of archetypal animal iconography by Keya Tama, designed with a linocut-inspired aesthetic.

Powered by ABN AMRO
ORIGINS: Family & Legacy is made possible through STRAAT's ongoing partnership with ABN AMRO, reinforcing their continued commitment to supporting STRAAT’s Women in Street Art campaign and championing equal opportunity artistic narratives.

With ‘Banking for Better, for Generations to come’ as its purpose, ABN AMRO uses sponsoring as a way to advance society. The bank takes its social responsibility seriously. This becomes apparent through multiple channels for planet (sustainability) and people (equal opportunities for all). As a sponsor, ABN AMRO aims to be an accelerating factor by forming the right alliances and setting specific targets regarding sustainability and equal opportunities, whether it’s sports, society, or arts and culture.

About STRAAT Museum
STRAAT is the museum for street art and graffiti, located at NDSM-Plein 1, Amsterdam. The museum houses over 180 massive artworks created on-site by global artists and continuously expands its collection with new pieces and installations.

Editor’s Note - Not for Publication
For more information about ORIGINS: Family & Legacy and interview requests, please contact Heidi Vandamme: bureau@heidivandamme.nl, +31 (0)6 295 32 686

The opening reception, with all three artists in attendance, will take place on Thursday, April 17, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. If you would like to attend the opening please RSVP to exhibitions@straatmuseum.com.

STRAAT Museum
NDSM-Plein 1
Amsterdam

Biographies Artists

Faith XLVII (b. 1979)
Faith XLVII is an internationally acclaimed street artist whose work moves between public spaces and intimate installations, exploring themes of spirituality, activism, and human connection. Her work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, Mana Contemporary, and the Calais Museum of Fine Arts.

Tyler B. Murphy (b. 1980)
A key figure in South Africa’s graffiti scene since the ’90s, Tyler B. Murphy is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in tattooing, sign painting, and large-scale murals. His influence has helped shape the next wave of South African street artists. In his tattoo practice Tyler is well known for tattooing some of South Africa’s most famous cultural icons including both Ninja and Yolandi of Die Antwoord.

Keya Tama (b. 1997)
Now based in New York, Keya Tama blends ancient iconography with modern folklore. His murals and studio works reimagine people, animals, and nature in a surreal, interconnected world. His practice is deeply rooted in storytelling, bridging the past and future through visual mythology.