Barbara and eva 1962s The history of subway graffiti in Ney York is a brief one,and the phenomenon differs from all other kinds of graffiti,both past and present.In the 1960s, teenagers in New york began to write their given names,they chose nicknames,creating a public identity for the street.Name graffiti initialy had a territorial function.Gang member marked out their turf and local kids wrote for their friends or for their enemies.