Inspired by expressions of Haida and hip hop culture, Corey’s use of graffiti references the freedom of the urban medium through its distinct combination with Northwest Coast formline.

Corey writes about the piece: “My whole graffiti career started tagging with my friends and I wanted to pay tribute to that beginning, so I had the canvas tagged up with some friends. We were working on the canvas in my yard when my gardener was working. He asked what it was and when I said it was my art piece, he replied with vigour, “This. This is not art!” He was rather adamant about it. In an alley off Hastings me and two others put the art lettering over the tags in white. This is speaking about the white institutionalized gallery walls in stark comparison to the completely covered walls we paint in the streets.”