[Said the 32-year-old Ecko about his win,] Today is further affirmation that graffiti is without question the most powerful art movement in recent history. This event was conceived as a tribute to the roots of graffiti culture, a time in New York City's history that I chose to believe was worth fighting to preserve. ... when the City asked us to change our chosen art canvas and, as such, tried to censor my First Amendment rights and those of these great artists by attempting to dictate how we express ourselves.

Marc Ecko