Lady Pink

Born: Sandra Fabara, Ecuador, raised in New York City
How it all began: In 1979 she started writing graffiti and made a name for herself as the only female capable of competing with guys in the graffiti subculture. She went on to bomb subway trains through the years until 1985.Claim to fame: She is considered a cult figure in hip-hop culture for her starring role in the classic film "Wild Style" in 1982.

Career highlights: While still in high school she was already exhibiting paintings in art galleries. By the age of 21, Pink had her first solo show at the Moore College of Art. Her canvases have been a part of prestigious art collections at such venues as the Whitney Museum, the MET in New York City, the Brooklyn Museum and the Groningen Museum of Holland.Her paintings are highly prized by collectors worldwide. Lady Pink also produces gargantuan murals commissioned for businesses.Business : As of 2005, she runs her own mural company with her artist husband Smith. She is responsible for creating herculean works around New York City, and has the distinction of being a part of one of the few professional teams to originate from the graffiti subculture.Community milestones: Pink has mobilized artists into donating public art in culturally neglected communities. She also shares her 20 years of expertise by holding mural workshops with youth and lecturing college students.From the horse's mouth: “It’s a difficult field for a woman. There’s... the attitude that women are too weak and therefore a liability, or the attitude that they just can’t do it. I was 15 or 16 at the time and I didn’t want to hear that. It’s hard for a girl to be a graffiti artist. You might as well throw your reputation in the dirt. Everyone thinks you’re a slut. I needed to hold my head up and prove that I could do it for other women...”

“I try to show younger artists that with enough passion you can achieve great things."