the Royal Kingbee

The 3rd edition of Street Art Expo NYC took place yesterday afternoon at the Elks Lodge in Elmhurst, Queens. Visitors had the opportunity to meet dozens of artists and vendors and to purchase an amazing array of urban art in different media — from stickers to huge canvases. Here are a few images we captured:

Plasma Slug

Plasma-slug-urban-art

Murrz, tribute to Diva, RIP

Murz-diva-tribute

Epic Uno

Epic-Uno-urban-art

Turtle Caps

turtle-cap-urban-art

Free5

Free5-at-Street-Art-Expo

Kepts

kepts-graffiti

The Royal KingBee

King-Bee-art

Jaylo, signed by KingBee

Jaylo-and-king-bee

Sponsors for the event included: Ironlak, TYO Toys,The Alski Show, Bombing Science and Stick Em Up.

Photo credits: 1-7 Lois Stavsky; 8 Tara Murray

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

en-play-badge 2

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This is the first in a series of images of males who surface on NYC public spaces:

Icy and Sot at the Bushwick Collective

Icy and Sot

Nick Walker on Manhatan’s Lower East Side

Nick Walker

Meres at 5Pointz in Long Island City

Meres

SinXero and Joe Conzo do the Cold Crush Brothers in the Bronx

SinXero and Joe Conzo

Fumero at the Bushwick Collective

Fumero

Tito Na Rua on Lower East Side rooftop

Tito Na Rua

Belin and the Royal Kingbee in the Bronx

Belin and King Bee

Erik Den Breejen does David Bowie in NoLita

Erik Den Breejen

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

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One of NYC’s most spirited public art events celebrates its fourth year tomorrow with a huge block party at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens. For the past week, dozens of artists have been busy at work for this dynamic project, curated by Ad Hoc Art. Following is a glimpse of what we saw earlier this week:

Billy Mode and Chris Stain

Billy Mode and Chris Stain

Toofly at work with Fumero to the left

Fumero and Toofly

Lady Pink at work

Lady Pink

 Alice Mizrachi  and Olek

Alice Mizrachi and Olek

 The Royal Kingbee at work

KingBee

Logik One at work

Logik one

Dan Witz

Dan Witz

Dennis McNett, close-up

Denis McNett

Keep posted to our Facebook page for many more images in the week ahead.

Photos by Tara Murray

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Danielle Mastrion

A visual ode to the late Wayne Roberts aka the legendary Stay High can be seen for the next four days at White Rabbit on East Houston Street. Presented by James Top Productions and Frank 151, The Stay High Memorial Show brings together an extraordinary array of artists from Stay High’s contemporaries to those for whom he paved the way.

Here are a few more images:

Duro

stay-high

Slone

Slone

 The Royal Kingbee, close-up

King Bee

Flint 707

Flint707

Portrait of Stay High by Danielle Mastrion; photos by Daniel Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

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the Royal Kingbee

Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, the Royal Kingbee UW is best known for his stylishly striking bee that shapes the urban landscape of the Bronx and beyond.  Commissioned by a range of businesses from Rite Aid to Bacardi, Kingbee continues to dazzle us with his talents on an array of surfaces both on and off the streets. 

When did it all begin? When did you first discover your artistic talents?

When I was in the third grade, I began drawing cars, clouds, trees – the usual things kids draw.  And I started winning art contests for my skills. I haven’t stopped drawing since!

When did you start getting up? When did you first hit public surfaces?

I started getting up some time in the late-80’s back in my high school days. I went to school with Sak from MBT crew and Stin1.

What inspired you at the time?

What I saw on the trains and what writers like Kyle 156, JonOne, Koze and Poke were doing at the time really inspired me.

The Royal Kingbee

What is your first graffiti memory?

The first time I went bombing I was all dressed up! My parents were very strict, and I was expected to present myself at all times in – what they considered – a respectable way. And so the first time I hit the streets, I went straight from a party and was wearing a suit.  We looked awesome!

What is the riskiest thing you ever did?

Painting along the tunnels with the Amtrak trains whizzing by.  It was a risk we chose to take at the time.

Why?

We did it for the fame, but also for the adrenaline rush. I miss those adrenaline-induced days!

the Royal Kingbee

Have you ever been arrested?

I’ve never been caught. We always did our homework.

With whom have you collaborated?

Back in the 90’s, I ran with my crew: VASE One, Nev, Bomb5, Cine, Lady-Di, Jew, Kerz and Pose2.  I’ve since collaborated with a range of artists from Shiro — from Japan — to the 4Burners.  This past year VASE and I painted down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  I’m looking forward to traveling and exposing my art more in 2013.

What about festivals? Have you participated in any?

I’ve painted in Meeting of Styles and at the Hall of Fame.

the Royal Kingbee in Meeting of Styles

Is there anyone – in particular – with whom you would like to collaborate?

I’d love to paint with Daim – a master of 3-D graffiti — and a number of other European artists who are taking it to the next level.

How do you feel about the current graff scene in New York City?

Graffiti hasn’t evolved enough in New York City. Too many writers keep on doing the same thing over and over. They need to get out of their comfort zone and push the boundaries.

Your bee can be seen about everywhere up here in the Bronx.  Tell us about the birth of the bee.

I was working as an artist on a range of commissions – mostly signs – and I wanted a logo that would be easily recognizable.  And so the BEE was born in 1989.

the Royal Kingbee

We met you at Gallery 69 down in Tribeca where you were exhibiting your artwork. How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

It’s cool. I’ve participated in a few shows and look forward to exhibiting my artwork in more galleries in 2013.

Any favorite artists?

Basquiat and Salvador Dali come to mind.

Do you have a formal arts education?

Yes. I studied commercial art in New York City Tech College.

Was it worthwhile?

Definitely. It helped me establish a career as a commercial artist.

The Royal Kingbee

What are some of your other interests? 

I love music. I’m a big fan of Pink Floyd, Guns-n-Roses and Depeche Mode.

What’s ahead?

More canvases. More traveling. It would be fun, too, to do art workshops with kids, who – whenever they see me paint – ask me to teach them how to draw a bee! And I’m working on developing a toy line.

Good luck! It all sounds great!

Photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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