AMSTERDAM.- STRAAT Museum opened ORIGINS: Family & Legacy, an exhibition celebrating the creative journey of South African street artist Faith XLVII (Faith47). Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in contemporary street art, Faith is joined by her son, rising star Keya Tama, and Keya’s father, the coveted artist and tattooist Tyler B. Murphy. The exhibition is on view from April 18 to June 8, 2025 and contains new pieces created especially for the exhibition.

ORIGINS: Family & Legacy is the first presentation to bring together Faith XLVII, Keya Tama, and Tyler B. Murphy, presenting an intimate collection of memorabilia, solo and collaborative sketches, paintings, drawings, and tapestries. Led by the matriarchal force of Faith XLVII, it offers a rare glimpse into the family’s shared artistic journey. The exhibition also introduces two new mural-scale canvases, created specifically for STRAAT’s collection.

Three Artists, One Legacy

Faith XLVII is a pioneering force in global street art, evolving from large-scale murals to sculpture, video, tapestry, drawing, and painting. Tyler B. Murphy emerged in the mid-’90s as a key figure in South Africa’s graffiti scene and is now a respected tattoo artist, sign painter, and muralist. Their son, Keya Tama, carries the legacy forward with a distinctive style blending surrealism and folklore, creating murals worldwide and studio works from his New York home base.

New Works for the Permanent Collection

STRAAT Museum added a significant new work by Faith XLVII to its growing collection. For the first time, the museum is also featuring a collaborative father-son canvas by Tyler B. Murphy and Keya Tama, marking a unique contribution to STRAAT’s collection. These works are being displayed in the main hall, joining over 180 large-scale pieces by international artists.

Two New Risograph Books

Expanding on the exhibition’s themes of family and creativity, STRAAT also released two risograph-printed books: Alpha Omega, a collaborative alphabet book featuring art by Faith XLVII and Tyler B. Murphy, with writing by Faith and her mother, Claire; and The Book of Animals, an imaginative collection of archetypal animal iconography by Keya Tama, designed with a linocut-inspired aesthetic.

A globally recognized street artist, Faith XLVII’s work moves between public spaces and intimate installations, exploring themes of spirituality, activism, and human connection. Her work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, Mana Contemporary, and the Calais Museum of Fine Arts.

A key figure in South Africa’s graffiti scene since the ’90s, Tyler B. Murphy is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in tattooing, sign painting, and large-scale murals. His influence has helped shape the next wave of South African street artists. In his tattoo practice Tyler is well known for tattooing some of South Africa’s most famous cultural icons including both Ninja and Yolandi of Die Antwoord.

Now based in New York, Keya Tama blends ancient iconography with modern folklore. His murals and studio works reimagine people, animals, and nature in a surreal, interconnected world. His practice is deeply rooted in storytelling, bridging the past and future through visual mythology.