On his recent brief visit to New York City, Sheffield-based artist Phlegm transformed the visual landscape of a Chelsea playground — adjacent to a public housing project on West 17th Street. We can’t get enough of it!
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For the third consecutive year, dozens of talented artists graced the walls of the Welling Court neighborhood of Astoria, Queens with a diverse range of images. We visited several times this past week beginning with the day before the Welling Court Mural Project, organized by Ad Hoc Art, held its official opening. On our most recent visit, we had the chance to observe and speak to neighborhood residents – all of whom expressed tremendous pride in their neighborhood’s visual landscape (and curiosity, as well, about the artists). Here are a few images whose progress we observed:
New Jersey-based Joe Iurato aka .01
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Noted São Paulo muralist Eduardo Kobra has been the talk of the town here as he has been transforming Chelsea’s visual landscape. Characterized by an impressive range of depth and realism, Kobra’s brightly hued murals pay homage to NYC’s history.
As viewed from the High Line, this piece was inspired by Alfred Eisenstaedt’s iconic photo, V-J Day in Times Square:
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Yesterday was a busy day in Bushwick, as artists from across the globe, along with locals, transformed the visual landscape of some of the neighborhood’s key spots. Here are a few images captured in the late afternoon:
Australian artists Dabs & Myla
Brooklyn-based designer Matt Dobbs
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Cake’s poignantly elegant women have been part of New York City’s visual landscape for the past five years. Earlier this month, three large ones surfaced on East Third Street off the Bowery. Soon after, we posed the following questions to Cake:
Your women have been captivating us for years. They are at once beguiling and perturbing. Are they women you know? Tell us something about them.
These women are all women I know and care about. They are: my mother, my sister, my niece, my Grandma Olga, my friend, Emily, and girlfriends of friends. And a lot of the time, some of the women end up having a part of me in them, which can’t be helped, as they all – somehow – feel autobiographical. I rarely paint men, but when I do, it’s usually my brother, Jeffrey.
At what point did you choose to use the streets as a canvas? And why did you decide to do so?
Right when I was finished with grad school, I joined in on the street stuff. It was pretty immediate and was just what I needed at that time. It was a place where I felt at home, and it was fun and natural. I haven’t wanted to leave since.
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Brooklyn-based artist See One has been busy gracing a huge wall outside the Running Rebel Studios at 6 Charles Place in Bushwick with his distinct aesthetic. Earlier this week, we caught up with him in his studio and had the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
When did you first start getting up in public spaces?
I was 17 living in Florida. We moved from Queens when I was 10, but graffiti had already had its impact on me. It had slowly worked its way into my blood.
What motivated you to hit the walls?
I started drawing when I was two years old. All the walls and floors of our home bore the markings of my oil-based crayons. As I grew older, I focused on black books, but wanted to go bigger and bigger and reach more people. Hitting huge walls was a natural progression.
What was your style like at the time?
When I first started getting up, my letters were good but I was really into characters. I’ve always loved cartoons.
How has your style evolved?
I wanted my art to stand out. I have an overactive imagination. I’ve always drawn characters but needed a secondary distinct style. I call the style “Shards” because it reminds me of broken shards of glass. This evolved into a style of abstract graffiti, my current focus.
How did you get your name?
My first tag was Focus, because I always needed glasses to focus. But I didn’t quite like the ring to it. So I took my birth date, 10/19, and in Roman numerals, the first three numbers are written CI. This became See One.
Have you had any formal art education?
No. I was never really good at school. I am self-taught.
Who or what have been your main influences?
My main influences have always been comic books, character design, and early graffiti. Japanese animation has also had a strong impact on my aesthetic. And, of course, comic books like X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bone were among my first inspirations.
Any favorite artists?
Many, many. Among the comic artists: Joe Mad, J. Scott Campbell and Jeff Smith. In graff: Seen, FX Crew, Futura, Cost and Revs. Among street artists, my favorites include: Space Invader, D’Face and London Police. I also love Tomokazu Matsuyama and Takashi Murakami.
Any artists you’ve recently checked out?
I’m looking forward to seeing Doze Green’s work at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery and I’m also into Remi Rough and anything by Jose Parla.
What about galleries? We’ve seen your work at Mighty Tanaka and at Dorian Grey. How do you feel about the gallery scene?
I used to hate it because it seems to be all about who you know. I’m getting used to it, but I wish it were easier to get my work into galleries. It’s difficult to get a response from most galleries.
You seem to fuse both graffiti and street art elements into your pieces. Have you any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?
I think of Street Art as Graffiti’s little brother. A first-rate graffiti writer has to have the ability to improvise skillfully on a variety of surfaces while enduring the risks of getting up. Most street artists do their work in a studio setting and face far fewer risks in pasting their work up or stenciling it onto surfaces. Like most little brothers, Street Art is resented by his big brother, Graffiti, and his big brother’s friends.
Interesting! ‘will have to think about that! Have you ever been arrested?
No. I’m semi-careful. I’ll usually find a lookout when I can.
Have you collaborated with any artists?
My most recent collaboration was with 2Esae and Ski of URNewYork.
How do you see yourself in the future?
My goal is to grow and attain recognition as an artist, so that I can have the means to further develop my vision and reach a larger audience with my work.
Images courtesy of the artist and Lenny Collado
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Born in 1983 outside of Paris, JR has achieved worldwide recognition for his enormous photographs of everyday people that have been pasted on a range of surfaces all over the world. Among JR’s numerous awards and grants is his recent “Inside Out Project,” which has turned the walls of New York City into an open-air photo gallery. This past weekend, JR was busy over at the High Line in Chelsea pasting his huge portrait in tribute to the Lakota people, an original Native American tribe.
Photos by Joshua Geyer
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While walking along East First Street off First Avenue early this year, we were delighted to come upon a huge trailer transformed into a vibrant outdoor canvas. In the past few months, this same trailer has featured the works of some of NYC’s best-known street artists such as Claw Money and Optimo Primo, along with images fashioned by artists who rarely paint or exhibit in public spaces.
Last week we had the chance to observe some of NYC’s most active street artists at work on the trailer and meet some others whose work was new to us. We also discovered that these artists were at work on Cycle 3 of The Centre-Fuge Art Project conceived by First Street residents Pebbles Russell and Jonathan Neville in memory of their friend, Mike Hamm.
Here are some images from Cycle 3:
Brooklyn-based artist Danielle Mastrion pays homage to Adam Yauch aka MCA, a founding member of the legendary Beastie Boys.
Local illustrator and graphic designer Michael DeNicola brings an eerie family abroad.
Thanks to Bishop203 and Elle, Brooklyn’s iconic character arrives on the scene.
The prolific Fumero whose distinct aesthetic can be seen on walls throughout NYC brings a slice of paradise to First Street.
Brooklyn-based visual and performance artist Jade Fusco, aka DMZL, graces the trailer with an array of quirky creatures.
And designer, graffiti writer and fine artist CRAM Concepts (center) honors all moms — just in time for Mothers Day.
Cycle 3 of Centre-fuge will be on view until July 12th, 2012.
Photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray & Street Art, NYC
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5Pointz, New York City’s aerosol art Mecca, officially launched its tenth season this past Saturday. Veteran writers, newbies, break-dancers, graff lovers, hip-hop aficionados and tourists, along with curious passersby, all came together in celebration. Here are some scenes:
Native New Yorker Demer has been an active graffiti writer since the early 80’s, beginning with NYC subway trains. These days his work is featured worldwide in print, in exhibits, on movie screens and on walls. Early Saturday he was busy at 5Pointz.
Active on the streets of the Bronx and beyond, aerosol art master Sien aka Sien Ide collaborated with Bronx native and acclaimed artist Eric Orr, one of the first writers to incorporate symbols into graffiti and to collaborate with Keith Haring.
Break-dancers shared their talents, as well.
A number of long-term walls, including those by the Madrid-based Ego Crew and Paris’s 2rode, also greeted visitors.
And, of course, there were new pieces by Jonathan “Meres” Cohen — under whose direction, relentless commitment and curatorial vision 5Pointz has attained international acclaim.
Although the threat of closure looms, that didn’t seem to be on anyone’s mind on Saturday.
Photos by Lenny Collado and Dani Mozeson
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Huge fans of Jaye Moon’s beguiling Lego installations that surface throughout NYC, we are delighted that two new ones have made their way to Chelsea streets this past week.
“Jerry” alludes to influential NYC-based art critic, Jerry Saltz:
And one more variation of the artist’s signature houses constructed from Lego and Plexiglas:
Images courtesy of the artist
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