Public Art Projects

Under the curatorial direction of Sharif Profit, this past weekend’s Graffiti Hall of Fame — located on 106th Street and Park Avenue in East Harlem — teemed with tantalizing talent. Among the featured pubic artworks in this event’s 43rd annual edition were walls and cubes fashioned in a wide range of styles by legendary writers and noted urban artists from NYC and beyond. The scintillating piece pictured above was painted by graff master Skeme, also known as 3 Yard King. Several more images of artworks captured this past Sunday afternoon follow:

BedStuy Walls founder and curator Miki Mu at work

Veteran writer and aerosol artist Renard Kelley aka Vens adding the final touches to his mural

 Delta 2’s masterful mural complemented by an adorable passerby who instantly poses!

The wildly prolific Cope 2

French artist Louis Vicius aka Jaek El Diablo

Will Power‘s tribute to the late writer and DJ Dez aka Kay Slay— with Al Diaz‘s iconic tag finding its way to the bottom!

Barcelona-based artist and tattooist Phen

  Bronx-native NAC 143 at work

 Stockholm-born, East Harlem-based Scratch

Note: Keep posted to the Street Art NYC Instagram and Threads for more images of artworks that surfaced in this year’s Graffiti Hall of Fame .

Photographs by Lois Stavsky and Dani Reyes Mozeson

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This past Sunday, Welling Court Mural Project director Alison C. Wallis introduced us to the distinctly talented Dutch artist, Ottograph, who had just graced the exterior of a three-story local home with his delightfully playful aesthetic. What follows are excerpts from an interview conducted then at Welling Court with the renowned international artist by Street Art NYC contributor and UP Magazine staff member Ana Candelaria.

When did you begin painting? 

I started about 40 years ago. I was 12.

What inspired you at the time?

My inspiration came from a Chaka Khan music video. I saw a guy who was roller skating and at the same time painting on a wall with a spray can. I said to my mom, “Mom I’ve got to do that!“ I then painted my first piece in a suburb in Amsterdam and was instantly hooked.

What was your tag back then?

I didn’t have any reference to graffiti. I’d never seen it before, so I copied the tag BEAT, the name of the guy painting in the Chaka Khan video.

Have you had you other names?

As we were watching the subway trains go by, we would always say “Oh shit! You saw that one?” And so when I was a teen, I took on my second tag, SHIT. Later I changed my name to ZEY because I liked the letters, and you can almost make it like a COCA COLA logo with the sling from the Y going under the other letters. But then I figured it was too short, so I added an apostrophe and an S, and it became ZEY’S. Then later there was ZEIS and finally ZEISER. That was the last one before my current one.

How did you get your current name OTTOGRAPH

My real name is OTTO. I was listening to a song by N.W.A and one of the artists Eazy-E,  shouted “And all the ladies want my autograph,” and I was thinking Otto? Autograph? Hey, that’s me! Do you know what’s crazy? Over in Europe no one gets it, but in America people instantly start smiling when I tell them my name. I’ve stuck with that name for the past 15 years.

Had you a preferred style back then – when you were bombing?

I really liked doing blockbusters. I made a lot of giant blockbusters on the subways. This was around 1985. It was so scary, and, like, the biggest adrenaline rush ever!

Were you involved with any crews back then? 

When I was like 17 or 18, I created the SHIT HAPPENS posse and for the first three months I was the only member. Now it has over 300 members! I see people putting S.H.P on their pieces and I don’t even know who they are.

What were some of the highlights of your career as an artist?

Painting last week on Sedgwick Avenue at the birthplace of Hip Hop was definitely a highlight. They had an open mic the whole night. It felt like I was playing music in my studio, but then I would look up, and they’re actually rapping in front of me. I felt like I was in a movie. And one special memory I have that stands out is from when I was painting at 5Pointz. I remember standing between seven guys in their 50s or 60s who all had massive pickup trucks. They found a way to link up their sound systems together and played Busta Rhymes songs the whole day. The scene was amazing! The kids were playing soccer, and we were just painting. I will never forget that day. Busta Rhymes, BBQing and painting.  Holy moly!  it’s perfect.

Where else – besides NYC and Amsterdam – have you painted?

Within the states I’ve painted in Hawaii, San Francisco, Denver. I’ve painted in Russia like 15 times, mainly in Saint Petersburg. I’ve also painted in Japan, Berlin, Spain, Italy. I’ve painted in Africa — in Gambia and Zanzibar. The next big project I have coming up is in Nigeria. I’m supposed to go out there in three weeks, but the political situation is a little out of hand at the moment, so I may have to push it to a later date. I can’t wait for it to happen!

Are there any cultures that influence your aesthetic?

Yes, my style is largely influenced by Aboriginal and Native American art. I love their patterns. I tend to put a lot of dots in my work, and that comes from the aboriginals who used to make artwork using only dots. The dots for me are a good way to fill in spaces. I always try to fill out a drawing. I usually start with my character, King Canary; then I work my way around it.

Where do you see yourself five years from now? 

I see myself doing the same thing. Traveling the world, painting as many murals as I can and meeting interesting people.

Interview conducted by Ana Candelaria and edited by Lois Stavsky; photos by Lois Stavsky

Note: Keep posted to UP Magazine for a comprehensive portrait of the artist, also penned by Ana Candelaria

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On my recent visit to this year’s Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria Queens, I discovered a wondrous array of art fashioned in a multitude of styles. The distinctly striking mural pictured above was painted last week by Meres One in his singular stained-glass style. Several more images of new artworks follow in this first of a two-part series documenting WCMP23, a community public art project organized and curated by Alison C. Wallis

Bronx-based BG 183, Tats Cru

Ecuador-born, Queens-bred multidisciplinary artist Toofly

Nepalese artist Imagine 876

Fumero in his distinct GRAFSTRACT style

Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Kimyon Huggins

Veteran UK writer Noir

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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On our recent visit to DC, we came upon several tantalizing new murals that had surfaced within the past few months at the DC Walls Festival in the ever-evolving NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood. The  mural pictured above — featuring a jazz musicians trio and a portrait inspired by AP*ART — was painted by DC-based artist and activist Luther Wright. Several more images captured while exploring NoMa follow:

Seattle-based Chinese-American illustrator and muralist Stevie Shao

Masterful graffiti writer and photorealistic painter Grace

The itinerant Canadian-born muralist Emmanuel Jarus

DC area muralist Nicole Bourgea

LA-based artist Tommi Lin, now on a 2023 International Mural Tour

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Inspiring positive vibes and sparking conversations about mental health, ten artists were busy last week fashioning a wonderfully diverse array of murals at South Street Seaport. Conceived and curated by designer, illustrator and muralist Annica Lydenberg aka Dirty Bandits and mental health advocate and author Samantha Schutz, the project suggests that we are all connected through our common humanity and, therefore, never alone.

The image featured above was designed by the Chinese American artist Zipeng Zhu aka Mr.Dazzle. Several more images of newly designed “You Are Not Alone” murals follow:

Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Sally Rumble

Dominican-American visual artist and graffiti writer Indie 184

Brazilian designer and visual artist Cristina Pagnoncelli aka CRISPA 

NYC-based type designer and educator Lynne Yun

The prolific Brooklyn-based designer and visual artist Jason Naylor

 NYC-based lettering artist and designer Alanna Flowers

Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist Richard Tumang

NYC-based multidisciplinary artist Marco Santini

Brooklyn-based Japanese American artist Adam Fu

And a message from project co-founder Dirty Bandits

Stay posted to the Street Art NYC Instagram for images of Priority Bicycles — designed by six of the artists — that will be used for “Priority Delivers” in honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month and Bicycle Month.

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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Located a short distance south of Madrid’s capital, the city of Fuenlabrada hosts an eclectic range of huge, enticing murals.  The image featured above, titled Cambios, was fashioned by the Spanish artist Manuel J. Hernández Miguel aka Morse. Several more murals we encountered last week while exploring the streets of Fuenlabrada follow:

Argentina-born, Spain-bred abstract artist Felipe Pantone, “OPTICHROMIE FNLBRD”

Spanish artist Lula Goce, “Luz”

Spanish artist Raúl Ruiz aka El Niño de las Pinturas, close-up from huge mural “Armonía Cósmica”

Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, “Where Is Okuda?”

Barcelona-based artist Amaia Arranzola, “Viva la Diversidad”

Spanish duo FREEgoodzillaKlan One and CafreNear Posterus” 

Photos by Lois Stavsky and Sara C Mozeson

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Pictured above is a segment from Italian artist Jorit‘s superb visual ode to hip-hop legend KRS-One. Several more images of faces that have surfaced on NYC public spaces in the past few months follow:

Ecuadorian artist Toofly in Astoria, Queens with the Welling Court Mural Project

Thailand-based MUEBON in Bushwick with JMZ Walls

Self-taught Cuban American artist Blanco on the Lower East Side

Brooklyn-based Vince Ballentine in Prospect Heights with Underhill Walls

NYC-born, NJ-based Albertus Joseph in the Bronx with Boone Avenue Walls

Brooklyn-based Lexi Bella at First Street Green Art Park

Photo credit: Lois Stavsky

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Tomorrow evening, Saturday, February 4, Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center and James Top Productions will host a book signing of James Top‘s autobiography, My Life, along with an opening reception to “Life Is Sweet on Sugar Hill,” a solo exhibition of his artwork. If you don’t already own a copy of James Top‘s memoir, this is the ideal setting to pick up a personally autographed one.

James Top, My Life not only celebrates the life of one particularly passionate graffiti artist, curator, educator and activist, but it illuminates elements of the hip-hop culture that NYC birthed.

Growing up in the projects in East New York, a neighborhood plagued by poverty and violence, it was all too easy to succumb to the fiercely brutal life of the streets. But James Top was determined from early on to somehow escape the “war zone” that was his everyday reality and “make it to the top.”

One of the last of his friends to pick up a marker, James — then JEE 2, the writer — went, within a relatively short span of time, from tagging the walls of his building to hitting trains non-stop. In 1974, along with several other writers, he founded TOP, The Odd Partners, a graffiti crew “with a mission to take over every train line and give Central Brooklyn an all-city graffiti presence.”  And that TOP, The Odd Partners did, as its members — principally IN 1, MICKEY729, HURST and JEE 2 — perfected the art of the throw-up as they gained recognition as Kings.

As life evolved, so did the TOP Crew. Members died or were imprisoned; DONDI and NOC 167 were among those inducted; and whole train cars began to roll by. JEE 2 was soon JAMESTOP, and he began actively tagging the streets. “As JAMESTOP, I was a combination of a Central Brooklyn gangster and a Harlem Shaft,” he writes in My Life.

While James Top had found himself enmeshed in a range of personal struggles in the late 80’s, he effectively triumphed over them by the late 90’s after leaving Brooklyn for Harlem. Several hugely impressive accomplishments followed: he curated his first exhibition ever — a DONDI Memorial Show; he launched Graffiti NYC, a TV show centering on NYC’s graffiti art culture; he converted a wall of an abandoned school property into “The People’s Wall” — an open-air gallery,  and he began to lecture on graffiti in various venues, including City College, CUNY.

In 2008, James Top had his first one-man show, “AFROLOGY,”  showcasing adult versions of his signature AFRO character.  And in the late 2010’s, he became actively involved in the Graffiti Hall of Fame, both as a co-director and artist.

You can meet the legendary James Top, view his artwork, and purchase an autographed copy of his memoir tomorrow evening, February 4, from 5-9pm, at Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center, 1942 Amsterdam Avenue @ 156 Street.

Images: 1. Cover photo  Jamel Shabazz; 2-5 ©James Top, My Life

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Through art murals and installations, the aWall Mural Projects creates opportunities for artistic expression while engaging youth and enhancing public spaces — one wall at a time. Last month, a group of first-rate national and international artists transformed the exterior walls of the Paul Laurence Dunbar K-8 Center, while bringing “the power of art to the next generation.”

The hugely impressive mural featured above was painted by German artists Daniel Ferino and Stone Graffiti.  What follows are several more images of murals at the Dunbar K-8 Center facilitated by the aWall Mural Projects. All photos were captured by the highly accomplished travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad.

Brooklyn-based Jason Naylor

Washington D.C. native Nicholas Zimbro

 Michigan-based Zach Curtis

Boston-based Sophy Tuttle at work

NYC-based Tom Bob does renowned photographer Martha Cooper

All photos Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad

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Since 2014, The Raw Project has been bringing intrigue and inspiration to schools in Miami and beyond at a time when American schools continue to see their arts education programs defunded. First rate artists from across the globe transform blank school walls into alluring open-air canvases inspired by the students, school and community. Under the curatorial direction of Robert Skran and Audrey Sykes, magic once again came to Miami during the week of Art Basel, 2022. And travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad was there to capture it.

The image pictured above was painted by Montreal-based Kevin Ledo, Titled “Fabian,” it portrays a first-grader at the West Little River K-8 Center. What follows is a sampling of several more murals that surfaced last month on the walls of the West Little River school.

Los Angeles-based Eric Skotnes, “Nolite Timere” (“Don’t Be Afraid”)

Miel Krutzmann of the Dutch duo Telmo Miel, “Minds Unfolded”

Telmo Pieper of the Dutch duo Telmo Miel, “Throwing Sticks and Chasing Stains’ 

London-based Dale Grimshaw at work on “Linky” — titled by a student

Oslo-based Hama Woods 

  Dutch artist Mr June at work on his magical mural

Photos: Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad 

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