Graffiti Artist ‘The Clap’ Unmasked

Graffiti artist ‘The Clap’ - now known as Kieran Todd Burtenshaw, claims there are others around the city that he’s been taking the rap for.

Between August 2022 and 2023, dozens of buildings were targeted, but surprisingly, since Kieran was first charged by police back in August 2023, the graffitiing has all stopped.

Kieran admitted seven instances of graffiti involving four buildings or structures, according to a  court decision recently released, and on two of those occasions an unknown associate was involved.

The Clap was afforded interim name suppression and subsequently offered diversion on the condition he pay $3650 for damage caused to the affected businesses. 

It was understood he had done so over a period of time by agreement.

Invercargill Central manager Kelvin Mooney said, when contacted, they were one of the many businesses affected by the graffiti, and he was pleased to see a resolution.

“It was starting to become costly and frustrating.”

International street artist Danny ‘‘Deow’’ Owen confirmed to media last year he had met the person behind the art, during the South Sea Spray event in December.

He said he couldn’t remember his name but thought he was super talented.

Some of the graffiti was pasted pop-art and cartooncstry, but sometimes he scrawled his signature and leaves a message to those targeting him (businessman Sean Bellew and former Mayor Nobby Clark have both been in the firing line).

The Salvation Army Family Store was also targeted and then when a fuss was made, The Clap came back and put something more tasteful on the wall with an apology.

Kieran appealed his decision on the name suppression in the High Court, but it was declined in November.

whatsonvers.nz contacted him today for comment but so far there has been no response.

He told media this week of the 80 ‘works’ around the city, only a few were done by him, and he was not the main offender.

Editor’s note:
This was not Kieran's first involvement in graffiti around the city. He previously used another persona, YUNG GRAVE, as part of promoting his music. During that period, graffiti bearing the name appeared at several locations, including the former SIT Arcade, where he stencilled the name throughout the building.

Kieran Todd Burtenshaw, also known as ‘The Clap’, and associated with the music project Yung Grave. Photo: Yung Grave Facebook page.