Futura Laboratories: the signature of a graffiti pioneer turned design icon

Step into MTHOR's Futura Laboratories collection, the universe of one of the most influential artists in urban culture history. Behind the name is Leonard Hilton McGurr, aka Futura, a living legend of New York graffiti, contemporary of Basquiat, Haring and Dondi, and one of the first to bring street tagging into the art gallery. More than forty years after his first runs on the New York subway, Futura is today a cult signature of streetwear and collectibles, celebrated by Nike, BAPE, Off-White, Comme des Garçons and Levi's. At MTHOR, we hand-pick the most coveted pieces of his universe — sneakers, a signed limited-edition art print, and a Hot Wheels collectible — all checked and authenticated by our in-house expert team. A short collection but of rare cultural density, built for the artist's fans and for collectors hunting rare pieces.

The story of a pioneer: from the NYC subway to international galleries

Leonard Hilton McGurr was born in 1955 in New York. As a teenager in the mid-70s, he tags subway cars under the pseudonym Futura 2000, in a city in full crisis where graffiti becomes the language of a marginalised youth. Where most of his contemporaries explore figurative lettering, Futura takes the opposite stance and imposes an abstract, almost cosmic style, made of projections, splatters and astrophysical motifs. His famous atom, which became his signature, was born in this period.

In 1981 he co-founded the Fun Gallery in East Village with Patti Astor, one of the first galleries to exhibit the work of graffiti artists alongside Basquiat, Haring and Kenny Scharf. The same year he collaborated with the British punk band The Clash, painting live on stage and signing the cover of their single This is Radio Clash. In the 90s he became an essential figure of the London scene by signing the sleeves of James Lavelle's Mo' Wax label (UNKLE, DJ Shadow), shaping the visual identity of an entire decade. Then came his reinvention in fashion and design: Futura Laboratories, his label, was born in the early 2000s and opened the door to the collaborations that have defined contemporary streetwear.

Why Futura became a cult name in streetwear and collectibles

If Futura has crossed the decades with such force, it's because he has pulled off a rare feat: staying relevant across every segment of contemporary visual culture. On the sneakers side, his collaborations with Nike (Air Force 1, SB Dunk, Hyperposite) have become grail references, hunted by sneakerheads worldwide. On the streetwear side, he has signed with BAPE, Stash, UNDFTD, Comme des Garçons, and above all with Virgil Abloh at Off-White, where his atomic motifs and pictographic gestures infused several pivotal collections.

Beyond textiles, his name has become a seal of quality for spirits brands (the Hennessy V.S Limited Edition collab), cars (BMW Art Cars), luxury toys (Medicom Bearbrick, KAWS dialogue), and more recently miniature collectibles. Every Futura drop is an event: limited runs, numbered series, careful packaging — the brand has made rarity a signature, which makes every piece sought after by collectors.

That diversity is exactly what you find at MTHOR in the Futura Laboratories collection: an iconic sneaker, a signed limited-edition print and a collector miniature — three objects, three facets of the same artistic universe.

The flagship pieces of MTHOR's Futura Laboratories collection

The collection brings together three major pieces of the Futura universe, chosen for their cultural value and collector potential. At the heart of the line-up: the Nike SB Dunk Low Futura Laboratories Bleached Aqua, one of Futura's most notable collaborations with Nike Skateboarding. The bleached aqua colourway, signature of the artist's aquatic palettes, comes with premium materials and a collector finish built for the most discerning sneakerheads. A silhouette that fits the line of Nike SB Dunk grails alongside the Travis Scott, Ben & Jerry's or Tiffany & Co.

Next comes the Futura Laboratories Intermezzo TFWHT Print, an original artwork signed by Futura himself and produced in a limited edition of 100. An authentic collector art piece, perfect for the artist's fans who want to frame a fragment of his work at home. Finally, the Hot Wheels x Futura Laboratories Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 offers a playful and collector object at once: a Hot Wheels miniature customised by Futura, turning a classic of Japanese car culture into a pocket art piece. Three objects, three media, three entry-price points — to enter the Futura universe at multiple levels.

Why buy your Futura Laboratories piece at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop specialises in authenticated collectibles and sneakers. Every product in our Futura Laboratories collection goes through a rigorous check by our expert team: for the Nike SB Dunk, we verify box-to-size-tag consistency, materials, smell, stitching, shape and sole, plus laces, using specialised tools like a UV lamp and microscope. For the signed print, we check the signature authenticity, the conformity of the numbered edition and the state of the support. For the Hot Wheels miniature, we check mint condition, original blister and collector packaging conformity. Every order ships with an MTHOR seal, a tangible guarantee that quality control was performed and authenticity validated. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide delivery in 2 to 8 days, signed-for to your door, with real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp, pay in 4 interest-free instalments via Klarna or Scalapay, and a France-based customer service team reachable Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. Our 14-day return policy has you covered, and no customs fees are charged to you, wherever you are in the world.

FAQ — Futura Laboratories collection at MTHOR

Who is Futura, the artist behind Futura Laboratories?

Futura, real name Leonard Hilton McGurr, is a New York artist born in 1955, considered one of the pioneers of abstract graffiti. Active from the 70s on the New York subway cars, he co-founded the Fun Gallery in 1981, collaborated with The Clash and Mo' Wax in the 80s-90s, then launched his Futura Laboratories label in the early 2000s. His signature motif is the atom. He has since collaborated with Nike, BAPE, Off-White, Comme des Garçons, Hennessy and many other brands.

Is the Nike SB Dunk Low Futura Laboratories Bleached Aqua authenticated?

Yes. All our pairs are authenticated in-house by our expert team before dispatch. We check box consistency, size label, materials, stitching, laces and any accessories supplied with the collab. Each pair ships with its original Nike SB packaging and an MTHOR seal guaranteeing it went through our process. Discover our full authentication process.

What size should I pick for the Nike SB Dunk Low Futura?

The Nike SB Dunk Low runs true to size in its SB version (slightly different from the classic Dunk Low). We recommend your usual Nike size, or going half a size down if you have a narrow foot. The SB Dunk has a padded Zoom Air insole that gives immediate comfort, no break-in needed.

Is the Futura Laboratories Intermezzo print really signed by the artist?

Yes. The Futura Laboratories Intermezzo TFWHT Print is an official print signed by hand by Futura, in a limited edition of 100. Each copy is numbered. We verify the signature and numbering before dispatch, and the print is shipped in rigid packaging suited to artworks to prevent any folds or scratches in transit.

What's the delivery time?

We ship worldwide, signed-for delivery to your door within 2 to 8 days. You get real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp wherever you are. Art prints are shipped in custom reinforced packaging to prevent any damage, and sneakers and Hot Wheels are protected by double-packaging.

Will I have to pay customs fees?

No customs fees will be charged to you. MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes, wherever you are in the world. The price you see on the site is the final price you pay: no surprises on delivery.

Can I return my piece if it doesn't suit me?

Yes. You have 14 days from receipt to return your piece, provided it is in its original condition (sneakers never worn, print unframed and in its original packaging, Hot Wheels in its sealed blister). Refunds are processed within 24 hours of receiving the return.

Going further

Also explore our Nike, Hot Wheels, KAWS and Bearbrick collections to dive into other artist and collector collab universes. To learn more about the quality of our pieces, see our detailed authentication process.