FUTURA on street art, his Les Benjamins collab, and Abu Dhabi's creative energy.

Graffiti legend meets street style

Midway through BRED Abu Dhabi, we pulled up a chair to chat with street art icon FUTURA. We were honoured to discuss his creative legacy, his powerful collaboration with Les Benjamins, and why connecting with the next generation of artists is so important.

Leonard Hilton McGurr, better known as FUTURA, is a name that needs little introduction in the world of graffiti and contemporary art. Emerging from the streets of 1970s New York, he was one of the first artists to push graffiti beyond lettering and into abstraction—blurring the lines between street and gallery.

FUTURA’s work is included in collections such as The New Museum, New York; MOCA, Los Angeles; Groninger Museum, the Netherlands; Yvon Lambert, Galerie De Noirmont; Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, and Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, and Eric Firestone Gallery, New York, NY.

In this new collaboration, Les Benjamins brings the iconic patterns of İznik tiles, historically significant to Turkish culture, to life on modern apparel. The bold motifs will be featured across a limited collection, along with a select number of exclusive skateboards. This fusion of past and present represents the brand’s ongoing commitment to artistic and cultural dialogue, creating timeless pieces that appeal to both fashion and art lovers alike.

In this exclusive sit-down with Art in the Middle during his time in Abu Dhabi, we caught up with the legendary artist to talk art, storytelling, and staying original.

Art in the Middle: Your name is stamped across the history of graffiti—how does it feel to bring that legacy into a moment like this, here in Abu Dhabi with Les Benjamins?

FUTURA: Honestly, it’s been incredible. Working with Benji and the Les Benjamins team has been amazing—this collab has been a few years in the making. I’ve been out here a few times already, and I love it. The people are so kind and welcoming. It feels really special to bring my story to a place like this, and to work with people who genuinely care about the culture.

Art in the Middle: You’ve left your mark on walls, canvases, sneakers, and galleries—what excites you most about seeing your work on clothing and skateboards now?

FUTURA: It honestly takes me right back to where it all started—as a 15-year-old kid tagging walls just for the thrill of it. I had no idea where it would all lead. Seeing my signature on pieces people wear or skate on? That still feels really cool. That teenage version of me would’ve been blown away.

Art in the Middle: Your style has always been ahead of its time—how did it feel to merge that with Les Benjamins’ deep cultural storytelling?

FUTURA: Storytelling is everything. This project was inspired by a powerful story about a Turkish ship that sank off the coast of Japan—a moment that really resonated with me, since I have strong ties to both countries. So it wasn’t just design for design’s sake; it meant something. That kind of emotional connection makes a collab like this even more meaningful, you know?!

Art in the Middle: We’re at BRED Abu Dhabi, where fashion, art, and youth culture all collide—how important are spaces like this for reaching the next generation?

FUTURA: Kids are the future, they’re crucial. There are so many young, creative people doing amazing things, and spaces like BRED Abu Dhabi give them a platform to showcase their work. If I can connect with them—even just say something positive that encourages them to keep going—that’s a win for me. Art in the Middle: If someone’s discovering your art for the first time through this collab, what’s the message you hope sticks with them?

FUTURA: I hope they feel the originality. Maybe they connect with the visuals, or they’re curious enough to dig into my past work. I did my first monograph book signing here, which was a great starting point. Like you highlighted, people might know me from sneakers or collabs, but there's a bigger story—and I’m happy to share it.

What a legend, thanks for chatting with us FUTURA! futuradosmil