Curated by John Carswell and his daughter Gloryanne “Baby G,” The Dogtown Collection spans five decades of graffiti history, from pioneers like Cornbread to a 105-foot mural by 50 artists from L.A.’s Under The Influence crew.
Preserving Graffiti’s Legacy
Hidden just north of Seattle, The Dogtown Collection is the world’s largest graffiti and urban art collection on canvas. Founded by John Carswell, a Southern California native, it spans thousands of works documenting graffiti’s rise from the subways of New York to a global movement.
“This collection represents the heartbeat of graffiti culture, its evolution, its struggles, and its undeniable impact on global art,” says Carswell.
Carswell’s passion began in the early 1980s within Southern California’s Chicano community. Surrounded by lowriders, tattoos, and brightly painted freeway walls, he witnessed art that often disappeared within weeks. That urgency to preserve fleeting works became the foundation of Dogtown.
The Opus of Influence
One of Dogtown’s most ambitious projects is Prophets, Teachers & Kings (PTK). Its centerpiece, The Opus of Influence, is a 105-foot mural painted by nearly 50 members of Los Angeles’s Under The Influence crew. The work tells the life story of a graffiti artist while honoring fallen members and celebrating the culture’s history.
“Graffiti is America’s contribution to the art world, born in the subways of New York and carried across oceans,” says Carswell.
A Family-Led Mission
Today, Dogtown is a family project. John’s daughter, Gloryanne “Baby G” Carswell, curates AMGRAF, the Everett gallery that houses the collection. She oversees exhibitions, manages artist collaborations, and leads youth programs that use graffiti’s authenticity to empower at-risk communities.
“We want young people to see that graffiti isn’t just rebellion. It’s identity, it’s history, and it’s art,” says Baby G.
Visit AMGRAF
Located just 30 minutes north of Seattle, AMGRAF offers visitors a rare chance to walk through five decades of graffiti history. The gallery preserves the culture, celebrates the artists, and shows how street art can inspire new generations.
