Zigged When I Should've Zagged marks George R. Thompson IV's first solo exhibition of works on paper. Spanning 2020 to 2026, the exhibition presents nine original drawings and one screen printed edition that follow the evolution of an artist whose contributions have helped shape contemporary graffiti for more than thirty years.
Created alongside an internationally recognized public practice, these works reveal drawing not as preparation, but as an independent body of work where Thompson's exploration of form, rhythm, and abstraction reaches its most intimate expression.
George R. Thompson IV (EWOK HM AWR MSK) is an American painter, muralist, graphic designer, and graffiti writer whose work has shaped the evolution of contemporary graffiti for more than three decades. Rooted in the discipline of letterform while continually expanding beyond it, Thompson has developed one of the most distinctive visual languages to emerge from American graffiti.
Zigged When I Should've Zagged is Thompson's first solo exhibition at Southside Preservation Society and brings together a focused selection of works on paper created between 2020 and 2026. While internationally recognized for monumental murals and large-scale paintings, drawing has remained a constant part of his practice. These intimate works reveal the same inventive approach to structure, rhythm, and abstraction that defines his public work, while offering a direct view into the artist's studio process.
Presented by Joe Ellis Art in collaboration with Burlesque of North America, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience and acquire original works by one of the most influential figures in contemporary graffiti.
