Niels «Shoe» Meulman (born 1967) started writing graffiti in Amsterdam in 1979 and became one of the pioneers of the European scene, painting with Bando and Mode 2 in the crew Crime Time Kings. After years as a graphic designer and art director he named his own blend of calligraphy and graffiti in 2007: calligraffiti.
This page gathers his official site, the calligraffiti project and Unruly Gallery, his mural in Stavanger, exhibitions from STRAAT to Paris and Miami, museums and galleries with his work, interviews, auction results, videos, books and the artists around him.
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Niels Shoe Meulman at a glance
- Born
- 25 September 1967, Amsterdam
- Tag
- Shoe – writing graffiti since 1979
- Crew
- Crime Time Kings, with Bando and Mode 2
- Known for
- Calligraffiti – a term he coined with his 2007 show in Amsterdam
- Design
- Apprentice of graphic designer Anthon Beeke (1989–1992), later his own studio Caulfield & Tensing
- Gallery
- Co-founder of Unruly Gallery with Adele Renault (2011)
- Collections
- Museum of Graffiti (Miami), Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, SFMOMA
- Signature
- Works signed «NSM»
Life of Niels Shoe Meulman
- 1967Born on 25 September in Amsterdam.
- 1979Starts writing graffiti under the tag «Shoe».
- 1980sMeets New York writers visiting the Netherlands – among them Dondi, Rammellzee and Haze – and joins the crew Crime Time Kings with Bando and Mode 2.
- 1986Keith Haring sees his wall «Better Times» and draws in his black book; NRC Handelsblad runs a full-page interview headlined «I am a vandal».
- 1989–1992Works as an apprentice of the Dutch graphic designer Anthon Beeke, later runs his own design studio, Caulfield & Tensing.
- 2007Names his blend of calligraphy and graffiti with the Amsterdam show «Calligraffiti»; the book follows in 2010.
- 2011–2012Founds Unruly Gallery with Adele Renault and paints the «UNART» wall for Nuart in Stavanger; the book «Niels Shoe Meulman: Painter» comes out in 2012.
- 2015–2020Moves on from calligraffiti towards his own abstract style; solo show «What the Fuck?» at STRAAT in Amsterdam (2020).
- 2025–2026Shows «Unreadable» with Bando at Danysz in Paris and «Shoe's Black Book» at the Amsterdam city archives (2025), and a show in Miami (2026).
Key works by Niels Shoe Meulman
From his 1980s walls to the word calligraffiti and his abstract paintings – the key moments of Shoe's work.
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Better Times
Key worken.wikipedia.org · Amsterdam, 1986The wall piece Keith Haring stopped to look at in 1986.
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Calligraffiti (exhibition)
Key workcalligraffiti.nl · Amsterdam, 2007The show that gave his mix of calligraphy and graffiti its name.
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Calligraffiti – the Graphic Art of Niels Shoe Meulman
Key worken.wikipedia.org · Berlin, 2010His book from From Here to Fame with a preface by ambigram artist John Langdon.
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UNART
Key workfjordnorway.com · Stavanger, 2012Monochrome calligraffiti mural for the Nuart festival at Klubbgata 4.
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Unruly Shoe
Key worken.wikipedia.org · 2012A five-inch stiletto with laser-cut leather lettering, made with United Nude.
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Louis Vuitton «The Greatest Words»
Key workhollywoodreporter.com · 2012Calligraphic imagery for the video series on Muhammad Ali, with Yasiin Bey reciting his speeches.
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What the Fuck? – Shoe at STRAAT
Key workstraatmuseum.com · Amsterdam, 2020Solo show at the STRAAT Museum with the installation «Shoe in the Middle».
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Niels Shoe Meulman websites
His own website, the calligraffiti project and Unruly Gallery are the places to start.
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Niels Shoe Meulman – official site
Artistnielsshoemeulman.com · AmsterdamHis own site with biography, recent shows, works and the galleries that sell them.
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Niels Shoe Meulman – Wikipedia
Infoen.wikipedia.org · AmsterdamEncyclopedia article: graffiti since 1979, Crime Time Kings, design work, calligraffiti and collections.
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Niels Shoe Meulman on artnet
Infoartnet.comArtist page with biography, works and auction information.
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Niels Shoe Meulman in public space – murals & sculptures
Most of his early walls are gone; his best-known wall you can visit today is «UNART» in Stavanger, Norway.
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«UNART» by Niels Shoe Meulman – Visit Norway
Tourvisitnorway.com · StavangerVisit Norway's listing of the UNART wall with address and directions.
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Niels Shoe Meulman exhibitions
Shows from Amsterdam to Australia – including his 2020 solo exhibition at STRAAT.
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Amsterdam: What the Fuck? – Superfuture
Exhibitionsuperfuture.com · AmsterdamReport on the STRAAT show with photos of the installation.
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Calligraffiti Upside Down Tour – Ironlak
Exhibitionironlak.comRecap of the opening of his Calligraffiti tour in Australia.
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Unreadable – Danysz viewing room
Exhibitiondanyszgallery.com · ParisOnline viewing room of the 2025 show with his spray paintings Silver and black and Haze of Yesteryears.
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Niels Shoe Meulman in museums
His work is in the Stedelijk, SFMOMA and the Museum of Graffiti in Miami; STRAAT in Amsterdam showed him in 2020.
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Museum of Graffiti, Miami
Museummuseumofgraffiti.com · MiamiThe Miami museum that holds his work in its permanent collection and sells it through its private gallery.
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Niels Shoe Meulman at the Stedelijk
Museumstedelijk.nl · AmsterdamWorks by Shoe in the collection of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
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STRAAT Museum, Amsterdam
Museumstraatmuseum.com · AmsterdamThe street art museum at NDSM in Amsterdam that hosted his 2020 solo show.
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Where to buy Niels Shoe Meulman – galleries
His official site names Danysz, the Museum of Graffiti's private gallery, Unruly and Ghost Galerie as the galleries that sell his work.
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Unruly Gallery
Galleryunrulygallery.com · AmsterdamThe gallery he founded with Adele Renault in Amsterdam in 2011, online-only since 2014.
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Niels Shoe Meulman – Ghost Galerie
Galleryghostgalerie.com · ParisGallery in Marseille and Paris that sells his work and lists his solo exhibitions.
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Niels Shoe Meulman – Danysz Gallery
Gallerymagdagallery.com · ParisGallery in Paris, Shanghai and London that sells his work; «Unreadable» with Bando in 2025.
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«Unambidextrous Shoe» lithograph – Artsper
Galleryartsper.comNumbered lithograph edition of 50 from 2019.
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Tinney Contemporary – Nashville
Galleryinternationalheritage.dutchculture.nl · NashvilleThe gallery that gave him a solo show in summer 2018.
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Niels Shoe Meulman blogs & articles
Interviews and reviews, from the 1986 «I am a vandal» interview to articles on calligraffiti.
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Keith Haring's Dutch adventures – Stedelijk
Blogstedelijk.nl · AmsterdamThe Stedelijk on Haring in Amsterdam in 1986 – the year he met Shoe at his wall «Better Times».
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Mixed doubles – Eye Magazine
Blogeyemagazine.comEye Magazine review of his calligraffiti and design work.
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Interview with Niels Shoe Meulman – Artillery
Blogartillery-projects.comInterview on his path from graffiti to abstract painting.
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«Ik ben een vandaal» – NRC 1986
Newsnrc.nl · AmsterdamThe 1986 full-page interview in NRC Handelsblad: «I am a vandal» (Dutch).
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Niels Shoe Meulman auction results
Shoe's works come up at auction from time to time – compare the same type of work and check whether a price includes the buyer's premium.
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Shoe at Christie's
Auctionchristies.comChristie's lots and past auction results for Niels Shoe Meulman.
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Shoe on Invaluable
Auctioninvaluable.comUpcoming Shoe lots from auction houses worldwide and past prices.
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Shoe on LiveAuctioneers
Auctionliveauctioneers.comShoe prints and works at online auctions and sold prices.
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Niels Shoe Meulman on YouTube: documentaries, interviews & tutorials
On YouTube people mostly search for calligraffiti tutorials – plus talks and studio visits with Shoe himself.
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Niels Shoe Meulman Shorts on YouTube
Videoyoutube.comShort vertical videos about Niels Shoe Meulman: quick drawings, murals and exhibition clips.
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Niels Shoe Meulman on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest & Flickr
Shoe posts new work on Instagram; the hashtag pages show calligraffiti around the world.
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Niels Shoe Meulman on Instagram
Socialinstagram.com · AmsterdamHis official Instagram, linked from his website.
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#nielsshoemeulman on Instagram
Socialinstagram.comPhotos people share of Niels Shoe Meulman murals, exhibitions, merchandise and fan art under #nielsshoemeulman.
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Niels Shoe Meulman pages on Facebook
Socialfacebook.comFacebook pages about Niels Shoe Meulman: foundations, museums, exhibitions, shops and fan pages.
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Niels Shoe Meulman groups on Facebook
Socialfacebook.comFacebook groups where fans and collectors share and discuss Niels Shoe Meulman works.
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Niels Shoe Meulman videos on Facebook
Socialfacebook.comVideos about Niels Shoe Meulman on Facebook: exhibitions, murals, documentaries and reels.
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Niels Shoe Meulman pins on Pinterest
Socialpinterest.comPins with Niels Shoe Meulman artworks, murals, prints, room ideas and DIY inspiration.
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Niels Shoe Meulman videos on Pinterest
Socialpinterest.comShort videos on Pinterest about Niels Shoe Meulman: drawing ideas, crafts and decor.
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Niels Shoe Meulman photos on Flickr
Socialflickr.comPhotographers' pictures of Niels Shoe Meulman works in streets and museums.
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Niels Shoe Meulman groups on Flickr
Socialflickr.comFlickr groups collecting photos of Niels Shoe Meulman and related street art.
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Niels Shoe Meulman videos on Flickr
Socialflickr.comVideos about Niels Shoe Meulman uploaded to Flickr.
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Niels Shoe Meulman originals, prints & collectibles on eBay
Prints, books and the Unruly Shoe trade on eBay – ask for edition details and provenance, or check the value first.
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Books about Niels Shoe Meulman
His two books from From Here to Fame: Calligraffiti (2010) and Painter (2012).
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Calligraffiti: The Graphic Art of Niels Shoe Meulman
Bookamazon.comFrom Here to Fame – his 2010 book with a preface by John Langdon.
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Niels Shoe Meulman: Painter
Bookamazon.comFrom Here to Fame – the 2012 book on his move from letters to abstract painting.
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Abstract Vandalism
Bookamazon.comNiels Shoe Meulman, Unruly Publishing – Shoe's 2015 book on abstract approaches to graffiti, which includes Gen Atem.
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Artists related to Niels Shoe Meulman
Shoe belongs to the first generation of European writers who connected Amsterdam, Paris, London and New York.
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Bando
Related artistsearch.streetartvalue.comParis writer and partner in Crime Time Kings; they showed «Unreadable» together at Danysz in 2025.
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Mode 2
Related artistsearch.streetartvalue.comLondon-born character painter and fellow member of Crime Time Kings.
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Keith Haring
Related artistsearch.streetartvalue.comMet Shoe at his wall «Better Times» in Amsterdam in 1986 and drew in his black book.
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Rammellzee
Related artistsearch.streetartvalue.comOne of the New York writers Shoe met when they visited the Netherlands in the 1980s.
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Gen Atem
Related artistsearch.streetartvalue.comGen Atem is featured in Shoe's 2015 book Abstract Vandalism (Unruly Publishing).
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Questions about Niels Shoe Meulman
Who is Niels Shoe Meulman?
A Dutch artist born in Amsterdam in 1967. He started writing graffiti as «Shoe» in 1979, became a graphic designer and art director, and is best known for calligraffiti.
What is calligraffiti?
A blend of calligraphy and graffiti. Shoe gave it its name with an exhibition in Amsterdam in 2007, and the term has since spread worldwide.
What was Crime Time Kings?
A crew formed in the 1980s by Shoe with Bando from Paris and Mode 2 from London – one of the early international graffiti crews in Europe.
Where can I see his work?
His «UNART» wall is in Stavanger, Norway. His works are in the collections of the Museum of Graffiti in Miami, the Stedelijk Museum and SFMOMA, and galleries such as Danysz and Ghost Galerie show and sell them.
How much is a Shoe work worth?
Numbered lithographs sell for a few hundred euros; canvases cost considerably more. Compare auction results above or get a free estimate from a photo.
Did Shoe meet Keith Haring?
Yes. In 1986 Keith Haring saw Shoe's wall «Better Times» in Amsterdam and drew in his black book.
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