Who is Cope2?

From abandoned buildings to art galleries Cope2 is one of New York City’s premier graffiti artists.

The raw energy displayed in his work crosses the lines between art and mainstream culture. However, his wild youth and the nature of street culture created rumors and controversy over the years.

Ready to find out more about this self-taught artist from the Bronx? 

Let’s go!

The Story of Fernando Carlo

The artist known as Cope2 was born Fernando Carlo, Jr. in 1985. His parents immigrated from Puerto Rico and moved to New York City. 

His early life was that of a street kid playing in abandoned buildings and burnt-out cars. He lived in poverty, and his family was on welfare, so broke that he would steal candy, chips, and soda from local stores.

As a kid, Fernando loved taking the train and seeing graffiti drawn on the side of subway cars. So he began tagging his name on walls around New York when he was 10. At 14, he started a crew of taggers named Kids Destroy and, later, Kings Destroy. 

In 1985, his cousin Chico80 inspired him to do full-blown graffiti art. He graduated to spray-painting his moniker Cope2 on the subways and streets of the Bronx. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Cope2 focused on graffiti productions and murals. 

In 1999, Christie’s Auction House had a graffiti auction, and the curator asked him to submit a few pieces. He had never done any of his art outside the subway yards and city walls. 

But hating his mundane jobs during this time, Cope2 decided to go for it and created three pieces for the auction. Two of the three works sold, and he earned $7,000. Before this, it took him two or three weeks to make that amount of money. 

This turning point led to international recognition for his authentically, in-your-face, raw style. 

Has Cope2 Ever Been Arrested?

Painting on trains and walls is illegal. An arrest for vandalism is just another bullet point on the resume of a graffiti artist. Drugs and violence were a part of this lifestyle, and Cope2 didn’t escape these troubles. Though arrested several times, he hasn’t done any jail time.

In 2010 Cope2 was arrested and charged with two counts of felony mischief and one of graffiti for vandalizing Manhattan subway cars in 2019. He took a plea deal and received a conditional discharge which kept him out of jail. 

Amongst graffiti artists, feuds and quarrels often happen in the street. Cope2 faced more trouble in 2015 for allegedly pulling a gun on fellow graffiti artist Hector Nazario. It all came down when Cope2 showed up at New York’s Bowery Graffiti Wall in support of his friend, Futura. 

A member of Nazario’s crew called Cope2 a snitch, and a fight spilled into the streets. Arrested by plainclothes cops from the Vandal Squad, they released him a couple of hours later. Unfortunately, this only reinforced the snitch label. 

What Is a Graffiti Throw-Up?

Often referred to as a throwie, a throw-up is a quick but slightly more complex version of a tag. A basic throw-up includes wide rounded letters, no negative space, and just the outline with one or two colors. 

Bombing, another graffiti term, is when a tagger paints a throw-up in multiple places. Covering another artist’s throw is a sign of disrespect, often leading to violence. 

Cope2’s first throw-up was given to him by another artist until he came up with his own. Now his signature throw-up is widely recognized.

What Big Names Has Cope2 Worked With?

In 2002, Cope2 provided artwork for the indie-film Bomb the System, which shows a piece on the Brooklyn Bridge. On the DVD’s behind-the-scenes footage, Cope2 paints one of the pieces from the film. 

Additionally, Cope2 worked with Converse to design a pair of sneakers for the Chuck Taylor All-Stars shoe line.

Time magazine commissioned Cope2 to paint a billboard promotion in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. The ad depicts a Time magazine cover scrawled with graffiti tags. 

In 2006, he appeared in the video game Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. In the game, Cope2 is a graffiti legend and gives the main character advice about the culture. 

Additionally, Cope2’s throw-up appears on walls in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV and the movie Shrek the Third.

Cope2 also collaborated with Adidas and Footlocker in 2008 to release a European line of clothes and accessories. The collection includes baseball hats, jackets, T-shirts, sweaters, sneakers, and accessories.

Is There a Book About Cope2?

Yes, and he wrote it himself. Titled True Legend, it provides a fascinating look at Cope2’s art and reasoning. The book addresses his importance in the New York street scene, and how he became the ambassador for New York graffiti. 

In addition, he has a new book titled Cope2: The Evolving Art of a Bronx Graffiti Legend, coming out in October 2022. The book showcases over 35 years of his work in one colorful volume. 

Through hundreds of photos, it shows the evolution from his early days in the South Bronx to his current gallery exhibits worldwide. In addition to photos, it also has excerpts from an interview with Cope2, giving insight into his life and career.

Has Cope2 Been in a Movie?

Indeed he has. Released in 2006, Cope2 starred in the documentary Kings Destroy. It features icons from the Hip-Hop world, including KRS One, Flavor Flav, and Rakim. Also in the film are members of Cope2’s tagging crew, Kings Destroy. 

Ultimately, it’s an intimate tale of veterans of the art and the dangers of the ghetto. The documentary is available on DVD and also on YouTube.

Where Can I See Some of Cope2’s Art?

Cope2’s work is in art galleries such as the Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery in Paris and Fine Art Invest in Marseilles, France. You can also see it in towns from Stockholm, Sweden, to Bridgeport, Connecticut. 

His Instagram page is a treasure trove of past works. Additionally, the book True Legend contains a large amount of his art. And, of course, the streets of New York are one of the best places to see how prolific his art is. 

From Delinquency to Success

Against all odds, from poverty to popularity, Cope2 made it through some tough times. He’s gone from tagging walls in his neighborhood to international art galleries, video games, and clothing lines. 

However, his greatest accomplishment was showing his mother how he turned his delinquency into success. Cope2 still fights back online against the rumors about him. But knows he needs to learn to let things go if he wants to find peace within.

Are you familiar with Cope2’s graffiti? Let us know where you viewed his work in the comments below.