Niels Shoe Meulman (1967) is an internationally known artist, born, raised and based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He began tagging ‘Shoe’ in 1979 and became a graffiti legend by the time he was 18. In the 1980s he met New York artists like Dondi White, Rammellzee and Keith Haring. He then formed the Crime Time Kings with Bando from Paris and Mode2 from London. Together they gave graffiti in Europe its own distinctive style.
In the 1990s he furthered his technique by apprenticing under the Dutch graphic artist Anthon Beeke. In the years after, he ran his own design company, Caulfield & Tensing and was partner in advertising agency Unruly, which he later turned into brand for silk scarves and a gallery.

Niels Shoe Meulman revolutionised the art of writing in 2007 with Calligraffiti, an art form that fuses calligraphy and graffiti. Since then, his calligraphic paintings (signed NSM) have been shown in countless international exhibitions and are part of several museum collections. His recent painting style can be described as Abstract Expressionism with a calligraphic origin. It plays an important role in the new art movement Abstract Vandalism.

Selected exhibitions & projects:
Abstract Vandalism , 2015 , Solo , Gabriel Rolt Gallery , Netherlands.
Bando / Mode2 / Shoe - Crime Time Kings , 2015 , Group , Amsterdam , Netherlands
Urbanism City in my Head , 2014 , Group exhibition, Museum of Moscow ,Russia.
Caleidoscoop, Wynwood, 2013 , Art Basel Miami , USA.
Calligraffiti Throw Ups, 2010, solo exhibition at Project Space Arkitip Incase, Los Angeles.
Letters of Indepenence, 2010, solo exhibition at Salamatina gallery, Manhasset NY.
STROKE.02 Urban Art Fair, solo exhibition, Munich.
Calligraffiti, one man show, 2010, Arty Farty gallery, Cologne.
Calligraffiti, one man show, 2010, Common Ground Gallery, Berlin.
Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2009, exhibition and auction.
Le Tag, 2009, group exhibition at Le Grand Palais, Paris

Selected press:
Louis Vuitton, Yasiin Bey & Niels Shoe Meulman
“Crime Time Kings” Bando – Mode2 – Shoe
'Calligraffiti': The graffiti artist inspired by medieval scribes
Niels Shoe Meulman Balancing “Unearthly” Paintings

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