YOUZE RECORDS AND UCARTWORK COMPANY (C) 2025
.jpg)
Kailash Youze: From Reykjavík Bomber to Respected Street Artist:
Kalli or Kailash Youze, often simply known as Youze, is one of Iceland’s most influential graffiti figures. Emerging in Reykjavík’s early 1990s graffiti scene, he was part of the first generation to bring New York–style tagging and bombing to Icelandic streets. At a time when graffiti was viewed purely as vandalism, Youze and his peers operated in the shadows, leaving their marks on walls, underpasses, and hidden yards. His work in these formative years earned him a reputation as a bold and skilled “bomber,” capable of large-scale street pieces executed quickly and cleanly.
As Reykjavík’s urban culture evolved, so did Kalli Youze’s art. Moving beyond illegal tagging, he began experimenting with larger, more intricate murals, blending traditional graffiti letterforms with figurative and abstract elements. His style matured without losing its raw street energy, making him one of the few Icelandic artists who could bridge the gap between underground graffiti culture and mainstream public art.
Youze’s work has been featured in several city-sanctioned projects, including murals during Reykjavík’s Culture Night and community revitalization efforts. His art often reflects Iceland’s urban identity—a mix of grit, creativity, and resilience—while staying true to the roots of graffiti as a form of self-expression and rebellion.
Today, Kalli Youze stands as a living link between Reykjavík’s early graffiti history and its thriving contemporary street art scene. His journey from tagging to painting legal murals mirrors the wider transformation of graffiti in Iceland: from a misunderstood subculture to a celebrated part of the city’s visual landscape.
