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NYC Graffiti Pioneer NIC 707 OTB Dies From Coronavirus

The entire graffiti world is mourning the loss of one of its great pioneers who lost his life this morning to complications from the novel coronavirus.

NIC 707 OTB, one of the original writers to bomb the NYC subways in the early 70s, passed away today(April 13) after contracting the COVID-19 virus.

Born Fernando Pabllo Miteff Jr. in Argentina to a famous Argentinian boxer of that era with the same name. He moved to the Bronx as a child, where his love for art quickly immersed him into the world of writing graffiti. He originally wrote the tag STINE 169, but in 1974, he ultimately changed his name to NIC 707. He also founded the legendary OTB(Out To Bomb) Crew in the late 70s, which now holds thousands across the world under the OTB banner.

NIC 707 is one of NYC’s “Style Masters”, making himself a regular sight on the IRT and IND lines in the 70s and early 80s. His unprecedented link between the first and second generation of writers can only be rivaled by the likes of the late KASE 2 and CHAIN 3.

There has been an outpour of sadness from all over the world over the loss of such a large figure in the graff community. JAMES TOP the Executive Director of the NYC Graffiti Events Center and legendary artist in his own right spoke more about NIC’s personality than his art. “He was one of the most popular graffiti artist today. He would show up at all my events a hour before they would start to help me out if I needed anything. That’s what type of person he was,” said JAMES TOP.

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Rest in peace Nic 707

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Got a terrible & shocking sad news of a good long time friend of mine I considered family! RIP Nic 707! U will be missed & remembered for as long as we live #nic707 #ripnic707

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Rest In Peace to the graffiti pioneer, Nic707 (b. Fernando Miteff), a true artist and contributor to this art movement. Since the early 1970s when he painted trains and founded the crew, OTB, he was known for his great letter style. He was a good, humble man who would still paint the occasional wall and pursued his dream of bringing art to the public with his future series which he presented on subway cards interiors until his last days. In this photo, taken at his home in 2015, he holds up one of his original pieces which he displayed on the subway cars in the Bronx. #ripnic707 #contemporaryart #graffitiart #graffitiartist #urbanart #graffiti #otbcrew #americanartist #bronxartist

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