Every year on the eighth of March International Women’s Day is celebrated the world over. It celebrates womanhood and pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of women across the globe. This day is set for recognising and celebrating the achievements of women, and one woman that undoubtably deserves a mention for her significant photographic contribution to the graffiti scene is photojournalist legend Martha Cooper.

Martha Cooper 2014. Photo by Sally Levin.

Martha Cooper is known for documenting the underground subway graffiti culture in New York city during the 1970s and 1980s. She captured the graffiti scene at its rawest and delved deeper, than others dared, to photograph and document the graffiti scene within its natural environment. Undeterred by crime ridden areas and dangerous situations Martha tiresomely documented subway graffiti and always got the exclusive photo of a freshly bombed subway train. Martha found herself infiltrating within this exciting scene, gaining the respect and confidence from the most talented and respected artists in the community, such as the great graff writer Dondi.

Martha embraced New York’s abandoned City inviting the world to visually connect with, and understand, the graffiti generation. In 1984 the groundbreaking Subway Art brought graffiti art to the world. This was the absolute beginning of what we call street art today and Martha was documenting it then and is still documenting the art movement today.

GraffitiStreet caught up with the legendary Kodak girl, Martha Cooper….

Martha Cooper dressed up as a 1950s roll of Verichrome Kodak Film for the Halloween Parade in NYC 1994.

GraffitiStreet

Your father gave you your first camera, a baby brownie, when you were very young. Have you always known a life looking down the lens?

MC

Yes–I feel a little naked when I don’t have a camera.

Martha Cooper in her hometown Baltimore 2012. Photo by Sally Levin.

GraffitiStreet

When you were younger the vintage ‘kodak girl’ was influential.  Did you see yourself as the young, vibrant and independent woman the Kodak girl portrayed?

MC

I wasn’t aware of early Kodak advertising with the Kodak girl until I started collecting vintage Kodak advertising in 1977. At the time I was already a professional photographer but I identified with the spirit of these early ads.

GraffitiStreet

You began collecting images of women with cameras and this collection has grown through the decades into thousands. You share these images on Kodakgirl.com. What made you start collecting these images? And do they empower you as a woman in the photography industry?

MC

My collecting world doesn’t really overlap with my world as a photographer. Oddly enough people who collect cameras and related photographica are generally not all that interested in images. My photography colleagues are often not aware of my photography collection. I enjoy seeing myself as a woman who is continuing a very long tradition of working female photographers however I would not say that the collection has empowered me. Collecting the images is something I do as a hobby for fun. I enjoy seeing how women with cameras were depicted since the earliest days of photography.

Yours Truly, The Kodak Girls: Postmarked 1913 Hamilton, Canada Martha Cooper Collection, 2011

All out-doors invites your Kodak: advertisement in Collier’s magazine, 1911 Martha Cooper Collection, 2011

GraffitiStreet

You have mentioned in a previous interview you were brought up in a feminist family. Did their influence provide you with the confidence and independence to work as a New York Post photographer, especially as this job was very male dominated in the 1970s?

MC

My mother and grandmother were staunch advocates of women’s rights. My dad owned a camera store and was an accomplished amateur photographer with a darkroom in the basement. Becoming a photographer was a natural choice for me.

GraffitiStreet

You met a young boy called Edwin who explained the art in tagging, you became hooked on subway graffiti and Edwin introduced you to Dondi. What was it like hanging out with him?

MC

Dondi was super smart and articulate and very generous in explaining the mysteries of graffiti to me. His enthusiasm for the art form was contagious.

GraffitiStreet

You left the safety of subway platforms and ventured more underground into crime scenes and dark train yards to get your photo. Did you ever feel vulnerable as a woman?

MC

I felt vulnerable because I was doing something illegal but not because I was a woman. At the time I was a photographer for the New York Post and they expected us to venture into dangerous places to get pictures.

A young Martha Cooper taken in Cambodia 1964.

A young Martha Cooper taken in New York City 1976.

GraffitiStreet

It was a very exciting time during the 1970s 1980s hip-hop scene and hanging out with graffiti writers. Did you realise that the pictures you documented would be so important to the art culture today?

MC

I thought I was documenting a phenomenon that would soon disappear. It’s a wonderful surprise that graffiti and hip hop spread worldwide and that people are still interested in seeing my photos.

Martha Cooper and her self portrait by Os Gemeos ‘twins’ 2008.

GraffitiStreet

You are involved with We B*Girlz (women in the hip hop scene). Was this important to you as a woman to document and preserve the history of woman in hip-hop?

MC

I did not document many women in the 1980’s scene. I wish I had concentrated on documenting more. That was one of the reasons I decided to shoot and publish We B*Girlz–to make up for what I missed back in the day.

GraffitiStreet

Were there many woman graffiti writers in the early graffiti scene and have you see a rise in the number of women graffiti/ street artists in recent years?

MC

There were very few women painting graffiti in the early 80’s but their numbers have increased steadily. There are many female street artists now.

Martha Copper in NYC 2006. Photo by Aiko.

GraffitiStreet

You must have taken thousands of photos during your life. Has there ever been a photo you never managed to get?

MC

Banksy at work ;)

Banksy – Exit Through the GiftShop

GraffitiStreet

What do you love most about being a photographer?

MC

Having a camera makes me look more closely at my everyday environment. I love spotting and shooting something I’ve never noticed or seen before. Photography can turn an ordinary walk into an adventure. Instagram allows me to share what I see immediately @marthacoopergram

Martha Cooper in Sao Paulo 2006.

Martha Cooper at Houston Bowery Wall in 2010.

Martha Cooper with fellow Baltimore artist Chris Stain wall piece 2009.

GraffitiStreet

During the POW!WOW! festival 2015 we got the chance to watch the festival unfold through your camera lens, as you document murals in progress and chat with participating artists. What other future projects are there in store for you?

MC

I’ve been traveling non-stop for the past few years attending many street art festivals worldwide. This year I’m heading to Tahiti for Ono’u Graffiti Festival and Gaeta, Italy for Memorie Urbane Street Art Festival to name two. Stay tuned for more …

GraffitiStreet would like to thank Martha Cooper for taking the time out of her busy schedule for our International Woman’s Day special interview. Marthas love and passion for the graffiti scene is contagious and her dedication with documenting the graffiti art movement throughout the decades has allowed the world an opportunity to time travel through the eyes, and camera lens, of the legendary Martha Cooper.

GraffitiStreet would also like to wish Martha, in advance, a very happy birthday!

Martha Cooper 70th Birthday tribute at Houston Wall 2013.

Graffiti artists Lady Pink, How, Nosm, Free5, Terroe161, Crash, Daze, Bio, Freedom and others worked hard to create a mural on the famed Houston Street Wall in New York for her 70th birthday which Martha celebrated two years ago on the 9th March 2013.

Photos courtesy of Martha Cooper