This man knows what he’s talking about. Henry Chalfant is a photographer. But not only. Above all, he’s the first photographer to have captured (the snapshots of ) the paintings on the trains’ bodywork from the bronx, queens & Harlem, in the early 70’s. Please.
Because he was hanging out with Dondi, Blade, Seen or Futura 2000, he met a certain Martha Cooper, reporter for the New York Post, at the time. Without knowing it, they were taking the same photos and knew the same artists.

henrychalfant-petitegood

From both of their work comes out in 1984 a book, now considered cult “Subway Art”.
Less famous in France, this piece of work still is the first photographic anthology/collection on Street Culture.
Therefore, when the very cool and chic “Gallery Bailly” hosted a retrospective of Chalfant & Cooper, with original prints and the attendance of Blade, the man with the 5000 trains… We jumped on the interview.