Ski

Few artists capture the soulful grit of NYC as strikingly as Fernando Romero aka Ski and Mike Baca aka 2Esae, collectively known as UR New York. Their most recent exhibit, A New York Story — a captivating ode to NYC — has graced the walls of Pop International Galleries since early October.  Pictured above is a work of mixed media on canvas simply titled URNY. What follows are several more artworks that will remain on view through mid-week.

Day Dreaming, Mixed media on canvas

Backstreet, Mixed media on wood panel

Don’t Kill My Vibe, Mixed media on canvas

La Bodega, Mixed media on wood panel

Already Read, Mixed media on wood panel

Pop International Galleries is located at 195 Bowery at Spring Street and is open Mon-Sat 10-7 | Sun 11-6 and by appointment. Opening this coming Saturday night at 7pm is a two-man show featuring Sen2 and Reso. To attend the opening reception, RSVP at rsvp@popinternational.com .

Photos of artworks: 1 – 3, 4 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 5 courtesy of Pop International Galleries

Note: Hailed in a range of media from WideWalls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Under the direction of Centre-fuge Public Art Project co-founder Jonathan Neville, the once drab trailer on the south side of East First Street is continually reinvented. Here are some images from its current transformation:

Staten Island-based Kwue Molly with the Ology Collective — Col, 2ease & Ski

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Brooklyn-based Julia Cocuzza with J Mike Kuhn on her left

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J Mike Kuhn

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Ogie 

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Damien Miksza

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Check here for information on how you can submit a proposal to paint on the East 1st Street Trailer.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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UR New York has fashioned an amazing array of works in a range of media for their newest exhibit, Product of UR Environment, that opened this past Thursday evening. On view at Pop International Galleries at 473 West Broadway in SoHo,  Mike Baca’s (aka 2Esae) and Fernando Romero’s (aka Ski) pieces on a range of surfaces — from spray cans to found objects to canvases — brilliantly reflect NYC’s distinct grit and the passion that it rouses. Here are a few more:

New York Side Hustle

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Brooklyn Boro

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Intersection

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Close-up from one of a series of fenced-in artworks with paste-ups, stickers, tags and more

"UR New York"

And spray cans with a message

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UR-New-York-Spray-cans

Pop International Galleries SoHo location is open Mon to Sat 10am – 7pm and Sun 11am – 6pm.

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Bronx graffiti

It’s been busy up on Boone Avenue near the Sheridan Expressway in the Bronx these past few days. Here are a few images captured yesterday during its current transformation:

Marthalicia Matarrita 

Marthalicia Matarrita

Cern and Lady Fever at work

Lady K Fever and Cern

Cope2

Cope2

Fernando Romero aka Ski at work

Mike Baca

Skeme, Reme at work and Chris RWK

Skeme, Reme and Chris RWK

 All photos by Tara Murray. Part II to follow.

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UR New York

We recently had the opportunity to speak to the dynamic Mike Baca aka 2ESAE and Fernando Romero aka SKI of the collective UR New York at Pop International’s new pop-up location at the Atrium at 153 East 53rd Street – where a vibrant new series of the talented duo’s art is on view.

When was UR New York born?

Mike: It started back in 2002 as a clothing line. But it died out for a while.

Fernando: Then in 2011 we revived it as an art collective.

You two are such a great team. How did you guys meet?

Fernando: We met through a mutual friend in 2005.

What would you say is the key to your success as a team?

Fernando: We don’t let the success get to us. We do what we do because it feels right.  As individuals we’re strong, but when we work together as a team, we are even stronger. And we are like brothers.

Do you guys have a mission of some kind?

Fernando: It’s all about individuality. Most people are sheep. The message is: Don’t be sheep. Be who you are, and be the best that you can be – whoever you are and whatever you do.

UR New York street art

Have you a formal art education?

Mike: I went to the High School of Art and Design.

Fernando: I graduated from Parsons in 2006.

Any thoughts about art school, Fernando?

It was an amazing experience. I met so many talented people – students and teachers — and I now have friends from all over the world.

How has your work evolved in the past few years?

Fernando: We’ve begun to focus much more on detail. We experiment with different styles and variations of colors.

Mike: We’ve learned how to step out of our comfort zone.

UR New York

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

Fernando: Even though it’s been going on for awhile, it’s a process. It will take awhile for graffiti to be accepted by the art establishment.

Mike:  As long as you keep it real, it’s a great platform. And at this gallery – Pop International – a percentage of our sales goes to CAW, a non-profit that offers free arts workshops to kids uptown.

Tell us something about your experiences here at Pop International and CAW.

Mike: It’s been awesome. The folks here at Pop International are like family to us. And through CAW, we’ve been working with kids. It’s great serving as role models.

Fernando:  Definitely. It’s been a great experience. And we get to hang out in this gallery and see our artwork hanging alongside the likes of Keith Haring and Basquiat!

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Fernando: Among my favorites are: KA, Belin from Spain and my partner, Mike Baca!

Mike: I like Skewville, REVS, Smart CrewKA and See One.

UR New York and KA

Any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

Mike: I can appreciate street art. I like the way it interacts with the environment. But there’s a natural tension between graffiti writers and street artists, as many writers risked their lives to make their mark. But we’re all in this together, playing in the same arena.

Have you any first graffiti memory that comes to mind?

Mike:  I remember finding a can of spray paint in my basement. I took it to school with me and wrote my name in the schoolyard. I got suspended.

Fernando: I was about six years old when I saw my cousin writing for the first time in Astoria, Queens. By the time I was ten, I started writing my name around my neighborhood.

What percentage of your time is devoted to art?

Mike: My whole life is devoted to art. I don’t have a day job, and I almost never sleep.

Fernando: When I’m not making art, I’m thinking about what I’m going to make.

UR New York

Any artists out there you’d like to collaborate with?

Fernando: How and Nosm, Os Gemeos, C215, Jose Parla, Doze Green, WK Interact

Mike: If I could collaborate with anyone, I’d choose BluRoa and Mode.

Any thoughts about the role of the Internet in all this?

Fernando: I see it as good and bad. It’s good because it can give an artist mass exposure. But – at the same time – a nobody can become a somebody. And that’s not good.

Mike: The Internet is the devil. There’s just too much information out there.  But on the plus side, you can get to show your work anywhere.

Any theories as to why graffiti is more embraced in Europe than here in the US?

Mike: People are more relaxed there and more appreciative of everything.

Fernando: Europeans are generally more open than Americans. They’re more laid back. Art has been a part of  European culture far longer, and Europeans tend to respect and appreciate it more.

KA and UR NewYork

Which countries have you guys painted in?

Fernando: Australia, Italy, Austria, Israel, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Canada, much of the US and Puerto Rico.

Any favorite cities?

Fernando: There’s nothing like NYC.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Fernando: Women, cars, buildings…just walking with my eyes open inspires me.

Mike: NYC. It’s a monster. It’s always alive and a constant source of inspiration.

Tell us something about your process.

Mike: It’s organic. We just let it flow.

Are you generally satisfied with your work?

Mike: We always strive to make it better.

What’s ahead?

Mike: Painting on a larger scale; working more with children and curating shows for people who don’t have the opportunities that we have.

Fernando: All that and making five times as much money!

Photos by Dani Mozeson and Lois Stavsky; the two trucks featured are by UR New York in collaboration with KA

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This is the fifth in a series of ongoing posts featuring the diverse range of stylish trucks and vans that strike NYC streets:

Sevor and Ideal

"Sevor and Ideal"

Cinik

Cinik

Ski and Optimo Primo

Ski and Optimo Primo

Staino

Staino graffiti

Noxer and 3ess

Noxer and 3ess graffiti

 Roda

Roda graffiti

Repo

Repo graffiti

Toper/Smart Crew

Toper of Smart Crew

 Photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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