Public Art Projects

Will Power Pays Homage to Hip-Hop Culture in Chilltown

September 20, 2022

For several weeks beginning in late May, Will Power brought his massive love of hip-hop and splendid skills to the 150-foot tunnel along New York and Ravine Avenues in Jersey Heights. Working in collaboration with noted hip-hop documentarians Ernie Paniccioli, T. Eric Monroe and David Corio, Will painted a momentous mural paying homage to 45 hip-hop icons and to the photographers who so brilliantly documented them.

Captured above at the entry to the Hip-Hop Tunnel is the late legendary Tupac Shakur — based on a photo by T. Eric Monroe. Several close-ups from inside the tunnel follow:

Snoop Dogg, closer up; original photo, the late Chi Modu 

The late Big L; original photo: T. Eric Monroe

Slick Rick; original photo, Ernie Paniccioli

Lauryn Hill; original photo, Ernie Paniccioli

Big Daddy Kane; original photo, David Corio

Rakim: original photo, David Corio

Sponsored by the Jersey City Mural Arts Program, the hugely impressive mural — seen by thousands daily as they travel in and out of Jersey Heights — is a spectacular tribute to hip-hop culture.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

 

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Waterford Walls, Ireland’s Largest Street Art Festival, Celebrates Its Eighth Year with: Zabou, Juliette Viode, Andrey Palval, Half Studio, Sophie Mess, GraffMatt, Mister Copy, Iena Cruz & More

August 31, 2022

Since 2014, Waterford Walls, Ireland’s largest street art festival, has been transforming and regenerating urban spaces in Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, while inspiring and connecting communities. Earlier this month, Waterford Walls held its eighth street art festival with over 28 national and international artists creating huge murals across Waterford City and the surrounding areas.

The enchanting mural featured above was painted by the London-based French street artist Zabou with the Dublin-based French illustrator and muralist Juliette Viode. They are both captured here — posing with the local boy depicted in the mural — by travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad.  Several more images from the recent Waterford Walls follow:

Ukrainian artist Andrey Palval with one of the murals from the triptych “The Birds”

Portugal-based Emanuel Barreira aka Half Studio in front of his masterly lettering

England-based self-taught artist Sophie Mess at work on her stunning mural

French urban artist GraffMatt checking out his portrait of a young woman

Paris-based South African photorealistic muralist Mister Copy at work

Brooklyn-based Italian muralist Iena Cruz in front of his mural “Out of Sight,” depicting “two vanishing polar bears… fighting to survive”

Photos by Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad

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TV Nostalgia Comes to Underhill Walls: Paolo Tolentino, Subway Doodle, Sage Gallon, Jessie Novik, Carnivorous Flora, DozenFingers Graphics, Miki Mu, Android Oi with Melissa Schainker & More

August 20, 2022

Currently on view at Underhill Walls in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn is a delightfully nostalgic trip down TV’s memory lane.  In the murals featured above, accolades are given to The Sopranos by Paolo Tolentino, while Subway Doodle honors Battlestar Galactica. Several more images from Underhill Walls‘ current iteration follow:

Multi-media artist Sage Gallon pays homage to “The Sonny and Cher Show” for its “talent and variety”

Painter and muralist Jessie Novik celebrates “I Love Lucy”

Artist and arts educator Carnivorous Flora recreates “The Partridge Family” as “little people with a bus rolling out the red carpet to Ukrainian refugees and welcoming them to NYC!”

Tattoo artist and designer DozenFingers Graphics celebrates the animated television series “Sonic the Hedgehog”

 Muralist and illustrator Miki Mu adds the final touches to her playful ode to “Sesame Street”

Visual artist and poet Android Oi — in collaboration with painter and illustrator Melissa Schainker — celebrates “Mork & Mindy,” (with project coordinator Jeff Beler standing to his right).

Founded and curated by Jeff Beler, Underhill Walls is a non-profit public art installation located at the corner of St. Johns Place and Underhill Avenue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn,

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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You Are Not Alone Murals at South Street Seaport: Jason Naylor, Kasi Turpin, Eric W Lee, Calicho Arevalo, Subway Doodle & Will Pay, Zipeng Zhu and Efdot & Jessie Mordine

July 28, 2022

With support from lead sponsors NAMI NYC and the Howard Hughes Corporation, seven new alluringly fashioned You Are Not Alone Murals have made their way onto the South Street Seaport in honor of the 2022 BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month.  Pictured above are the works of the prolific Brooklyn-based artist Jason Naylor and, to his right, designer and illustrator Kasi Turpin. Several more photos of YANA murals — painted during two of this month’s hottest days and captured at dusk — follow:

NYC-based freelance graphic designer Eric W Lee

Bogota-native Calicho Arevalo does it in Spanish

Brooklyn-based multimedia artist Subway Doodle in collaboration with Iranian-American muralist Will Pay and NYC-based multimedia designer Zipeng Zhu to their mural’s right

Brooklyn-based visual artist Efdot in collaboration with textile artist and educator Jessie Mordine

Founded and organized by Dirty Bandits and Samantha Schutz, You Are Not Alone Murals is a pubic art project that inspires hope and connection though creativity. If you are feeling down, the number to text or call is 988.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Street Art for Mankind to Unveil New Midtown NYC Road Safety Mural Created with Dragon 76

July 13, 2022

Working in partnership with UNITAR to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030, Street Art for Mankind has brought a huge, hugely impressive new mural to Midtown Manhattan. Created by the wonderfully talented Dragon 76, it spans 5,200 square feet at the crossing of Tunnel Exit Street and 39th Street. Several more images of the monumental mural follow:

Earlier on

Close-up with advice we need to heed–

Another detail

The completed mural

And another view with the artist (center) and varied supporters

The official unveiling and inauguration will take place tomorrow,  Thursday July 14th, at 11:30 AM, in front of the mural at 216 East 39th Street.

All images courtesy Street Art for Mankind

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Hoboken-Based Artist Raisa Nosova Fights Invasion of Ukraine with Paint Brushes on the Streets of Jersey City

June 30, 2022

Hoboken-based artist Raisa Nosova was two months pregnant when Russia bombed Kiev. With close family and friends in Ukraine, she felt overwhelmed with anguish at a particularly vulnerable time in her life. Eager to assist the victims of the horrific war, she set up a page on her website featuring original ART FOR UKRAINE. All of the proceeds from the sale of her paintings “went directly to the battlefield delivering medicine and food to trapped Ukrainians.”

But driven by anger and pain, she was determined to do more to raise money and to raise awareness of the Ukrainian people’s precarious plight. After speaking to a Ukrainian family who owned a gas station near Journal Square in Jersey City, she began bringing her vision to the public with a large-scale mural, “Uprooted.” The image pictured above features Raisa Nosova at work on “Uprooted.” Several more images shared by the artist follow:

Corner view of  the completed mural 

Detail

Raisa Nosova at work on small segment of mural

Another view of the artist

And here you can check out Raisa‘s video to find out more about her mission:

Note: Raisa has been directly on contact with 1. a woman in Ukraine who has been organizing medicine purchase and delivery directly to destroyed cities; 2. an OBGYN/childbirth hospital in Kyiv, and 3. a circle of psychologists who are volunteering to work with adults and children in bombed cities.

Donations can be sent directly by mail to — Raisa Nosova, P O Box 2617, Hoboken NJ 07030

All photos courtesy of the artist; photo 1, 4 & 5 by Joey Palmieri

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Welling Court Mural Project Launches Its 13th Annual Street Art Festival This Weekend in Astoria, Queens

June 22, 2022

Launched in 2009, Welling Court Mural Project has transformed Welling Court and its surrounding blocks in Astoria, Queens into a welcoming, wondrous open-air gallery. Under the curatorial direction of Alison Wallis, a diverse range of artists are now busily bringing their talents and visions to Welling Court in preparation for this weekend’s festivities. When visiting on Monday evening, I came upon several artists at work and a few newly fashioned murals. Pictured above is artist, curator and arts educator Alice Mizrachi with spray can in hand. Several more images follow:

Style master Noah TFP at work

The renowned Greg Lamarche aka Sp.One

Thailand-based artist Headache Stencil

The legendary Lady Pink, close-up from her almost-completed mural

Another detail from Lady Pink’s hugely impressive and uplifting mural

Japanese artist Shiro brings new vibes to her old spot

These next few days will bring many more artists to Welling Court culminating this weekend in a two-day festival. Featuring live painting a  marketplace and more, it will take place June 25 and 26 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 11-25 30th Avenue.

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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All Female Graffiti Crew Brings Colombian Vibes to East Tremont: Shiro, Kay Love, Gia, Neku, Jai, Ming, Scratch and Erotica

June 16, 2022

When East Tremont resident Kay Love was offered the opportunity to paint a huge wall outside the nearby Colombian restaurant La Masa, she jumped at the opportunity. And what emerged was the first all- female artists’ production wall in the Bronx inspired by Colombia’s beauty — its divine indigenous women, history, culture and nature.

Among the talents featured in the mural segment pictured above are those of the legendary Japanese artist Shiro and self-described “Defender of the Bronx” artist Kay Love. Several more segments of the delightfully tantalizing mural follow — all fashioned by members of the  graffiti crew and collective  GW2 (Girls Write Too).

Colombia-born, East Harlem-based mixed media artist Gia, Secta 7 Collective member Neku, and graffiti writer & muralist Jai

Queens-based Asian American graffiti writer Ming and Shiro 

Stockholm-born, East Harlem-based graffiti writer and muralist Scratch

Bronx-based veteran graffiti writer Erotica

Special thanks to Scratch for sharing the backstory of the mural.

Photo credits:  1, 2 3 & 5 Lois Stavsky; 4 Kay Love

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Jeff Beler on Washington Walls with: Uncutt Art, Calicho, Paulie Nassar, Jaima, Outer Source, Majo San and Carnivorous Flora

June 14, 2022

While checking out several new murals at Underhill Walls in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn last week, I was delighted to discover a new open air gallery just a few blocks away.  Located at Washington Avenue and Clark Place and, also, curated by community resident and leader Jeff Beler, it hosts a captivating array of murals. A brief interview with Jeff Beler — its founder — follows:

What a wonderful addition go the neighborhood! What motivated you to launch this new project, Washington Walls?

I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 17 years and this spot had always been an eyesore.  It had originally been a garage, but it had been empty for years — with damaged panels in need of replacement.

How did you made this transformation happen — in terms of permissions?

I spoke to the contractor who contacted the owner of the property. The panels were replaced, and I was given the “Go ahead!”

When did it officially launch? And how did it go?

In February — right after Valentines Day. The entire community pitched in. Kids got involved. Everything went beautifully, and we all had fun!

These walls feature such a wide range of talents, styles and themes. I am familiar with many of the artists from Underhill Walls and elsewhere, yet several are new to me. How were you able to engage so many artists? And how did they find out about this project?

I put up a post on Instagram that I was seeking artists to paint, and the response was great.

What’s ahead?

A second edition of Washington Walls in September. We are also planning to launch shirts, tote bags, prints and stickers, along with a  book documenting the past seven years of Underhill Walls. And currently we are completing the newest set of murals at Underhill Walls featuring TV Nostalgia.

Murals:

  1. Uncutt Art
  2. Calicho Arevalo — with Jeff Beler on the left
  3. Paulie Nassar
  4. Jaima
  5. Outer Source
  6. Majo San
  7. Carnivorous Flora

Photos: Lois Stavsky

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky

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Jaffa’s Alluring Doors and Shutters: Athalia Lewartowski, Elad Green, Tal Shetach and Soskee

May 5, 2022

Adjacent to Old Jaffa’s bustling flea market and a short walk from its famed Clock Tower is its Greek Market, whose restaurant and shop doors serve as open-air canvases to an eclectic range of artists. The image featured above is the work of Tel Aviv-based fashion designer Athalia Lewartowski.  Several more images — captured on my recent far too brief visit to Tel Aviv — follow:

Also by Athalia Lewartowski

 

The masterly visual artist Elad Green

Tel Aviv born and based illustrator and graphic designer Tal Shetach

The ever-intriguing Soskee

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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