British street artist Banksy has paid tribute on his website to Nekst a graffiti writer legend from the 1990s. He recently placed a GIF animation paying homage to Nekst who passed away in December. This homage is the latest in a long line of tributes sprayed around the world in memory of the Nekst. Banksy’s image shows a painting of a spray can with a caution sign and a waving animated flame with a note which reads Nekst RIP. It is one of the few annimated pieces created by Banksy and believed to be the fist gif created.
Nekst will be remembered by thousands as one of the world’s most prolific writers. His painting graffiti contained unmatched levels of dedication for for just under twenty years. He traveled from his home in Houston, Texas to spread his name US-wide and internationally. Nekst dominated the graff scene in any city in which he showed up, having made a name for himself in Texas, as well as New Orleans, San Francisco, Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City where he died.
As well as friends and family, Nekst will be missed by his painting partners, many of whom are also internationally famous writers in their own right, with Nekst being a key member of crews like DTS (Death Threats) and renowned MSK (Mad Society Kings). Nekst wasn’t just a full-on hardcore graffiti writer. While doing a six-month stint inside in Texas, he drew scores of contemplative portraits of his fellow inmates.
The Legendary UK graffiti artist Banksy’s work typically includes satirical social and political commentary, and ranges from murals to sculpture and installation, often playing with the contextual aspects of the work. The artist’s first solo show was held in 2002 at Los Angeles’ 33 1/3 Gallery, and in 2003 he was commissioned to design to cover of Blur’s ThinkTank. Today, Banksy’s work appears internationally; most notably, he painted nine sardonic images on the Palestinian side of the West Bank barrier. In Summer 2009, Banksy took over the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery with an exhibition attracting over 300,000 visitors and hour-long queues all the way down the road.