This is the sixteenth in a series of occasional posts featuring the diverse range of trucks and vans that strike our streets:
Wane and Queen Andrea
PJ Linden at work for the House of Yes
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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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Montreal boasts a wide array of intriguing murals by both local and international artists. The mural pictured above was painted by Julien Malland aka Seth Globepainter for an ongoing mural project organized by MU, whose mission is to transform Montreal into an “open air gallery.” What follows are several more murals we came upon on our recent visit to Montreal:
Tel Aviv-based Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz — who are currently here in NYC
Montreal-based French artist SBuONe for Montreal’s 2017 Mural Festival
Montreal-based Kevin Ledo does Leonard Cohen for Montreal’s 2017 Mural Festival, close-up
Hamburg-based 1010 forMontreal’s 2017 Mural Festival
Photo credit: 1, 2 & 5 Tara Murray; 3 & 4 Lois Stavsky
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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Home to such projects as 100 Gates and Market Surplus, the streets and venues of Manhattan’s Lower East Side have introduced us to new talents, while showcasing some of NYC’s most prominent graffiti artists and muralists. Artists are now invited to submit ideas for an entire mural — or a segment of it — to be painted on the western façade of Essex Crossing‘s site at 145 Clinton Street that will be home to 107 market-rate apartments and 104 below-market-rate units. Check the Request for Proposals (RFP) for all the details and requirements. You have until December 15th to submit it.
The image featured above was painted by Gera Luz. Here are several more that have surfaced on the Lower East Side within the past year:
Buff Monster for Market Surplus
Photo credit: QuallsBenson
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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Presented by RexRomae Gallery and curated by Street Art News founder Rom Levy, Martin Whatson‘s solo exhibit Revive opened last Friday, September 29th, in Santa Monica. Featured in Revive are paintings, prints and sculptures representative of the Norwegian artist’s vibrant graphic imagery fashioned in juxtaposition to his greyscaled stenciled art and staid backgrounds. Pictured above is Whatson‘s recreation of Salvador Dali’s Figure at the Window — forged with acrylic, spray paint and marker — that originally surfaced on the streets of Norway in 2015 during the Nuart Street Art Festival. What follows are several more images of artworks on exhibit in Revive:
“Behind the Curtain” — which made an appearance in Miami in 2015 as a large scale mural
“Framed” — originally conceived in 2013 for the Sand, Sea and Spray Festival in Blackpool, UK.
The artist’s famed butterfly as sculpture
Martin Whatson‘s iconic astronauts — with butterflies fluttering on their fingertips
The celebrated Martin Whatson with his brightly graffitied rhino
The exhibit continues through this weekend at 328 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles.
Contents for this post provided by Luna George; photos by Angela Izzo
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The following guest post is by Houda Lazrak
While in Mexico City shortly before the devastating earthquake, Roberto Shimizu, Creative Director of The Antique Toy Museum of Mexico (MUJAM) and co-organizer of Mexico City’s street art festival All City Canvas, introduced me to over a dozen murals — mainly in the neighborhoods of Roma Norte, Doctores and downtown. Featured above is by Mexico City – based Curiot who — upon returning to Mexico City after living in the US — painted a center for youth who struggle with difficulties within the traditional school system. What follows is a sampling of several more murals, organized by Roberto Shimizu, that I saw:
Arty & Chikle, the first gay street art couple to come out in Mexico City
Valencia-based Escif — at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, where the Tlatelolco massacre occurred on October 2, 1968. Students met in this plaza for a peaceful demonstration and reportedly hundreds of them were shot and killed when the military opened fired on them. The image depicts former Interior Secretary Luis Echeverría requesting President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz to order the shooting. Decades later, Echeverría was put on trial for the massacre.
UK-based D*Face
Mexico City-based Edgar Flores aka Saner
Mexico City-based Hilda Palafox aka Poni
LA-based El Mac on his mural: The image I painted is based on photos I took of a social activist and poet named María Guardado, who was tortured and left for dead in 1980 by government forces during the civil war in El Salvador. She was one of thousands of civilian victims of that war, during which the US-backed Salvadoran government employed death squads to kill and terrorize everyone from poor farmers to nuns to students. Maria survived and fled the country for Los Angeles, where today she is still a passionate fighter for social justice.
All photos by Houda Lazrak
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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A veteran French graffiti writer, designer and illustrator, Jaek el Diablo shared his talents with us in Jersey City earlier this year, painting several walls in coordination with Green Villain, along with independent commissions. At the time, street and travel photographer Karin du Maire had the opportunity to interview him:
When did you begin doing graffiti?
It’s been about 25 years now since I first started doing graffiti. I began in the early 90’s.
What inspired you at the time?
I was into the skateboard culture back then, and I met many other skaters who were tagging the streets. They exposed me to graffiti, street art, comics and pop culture, in general.
What, would you say, has had the largest impact upon your particular style — both as a graffiti artist and a designer?
Comics! I was always drawing, and the comics I was reading inspired my characters. I think that was the beginning of my story!
How would you define your style? What differentiates it from others?
If I had to define my style, I would describe it as cartoon. I was influenced early on by the Kermits, Disney, Hanna–Barbera… In my work, I try not to reproduce the same thing that I see. I put my own stamp on it! It’s kind of like sampling in hip-hop – a remix of sorts! I see my work as a tribute to some of my favorite characters. It’s always a tribute.
Can you tell us a bit about the difference between French graffiti and the graffiti you’ve seen here while painting in NYC or Jersey City?
I think that back in Europe, we’ve had other influences — such as Mode 2 and the cartoon styles that inspired him. And we have the German graffiti writers whose letters are always evolving. Here in NYC, the writers are very academic; they are Old School academic. Not all — there is Rime MSK and a few guys who are next level. But most NY writers maintain the classic graffiti style. To me, the two books, Spraycan Art and Subway Art, are the Bible, the base. I love being here and discovering the origin of my religion!
What about the future of graffiti? Where do you see it going?
I see more and more big murals, especially tribute murals, and more illustrators doing street art. I see lots and lots of styles, but there will always be a return to the roots of it all – which is graffiti. I see it going in a variety of directions. But, I think, in the future there is no museum. It is only in the streets!
Many walls in NYC are now curated. How do you feel about this trend?
On a positive note, the walls are better and better, because the artists are carefully selected. But it’s also a negative thing. Graffiti was meant to be open to all. If you had a can, the wall was free! But, yes, these curated walls help break down the negative stereotypes of graffiti. And that is good for my art! So maybe that is the future!
Photos by Karin du Maire; interview conducted by Karin du Maire and edited by Lois Stavsky
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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Last week, Texas-based John Bramblitt, a professional artist who lost his vision in 2001, visited Bushwick, where he collaborated on a huge mural with Rubin 415 for JMZ Walls. While he was here, travel and street photographer Karin du Maire had the opportunity to interview him and capture him, along with Rubin 415, in action.
Can you tell us, John, a bit about how you got into art?
I think I could draw before I could walk! Art was always a big part of my life. And growing up, I was sick a lot. I had kidney problems. I had severe epilepsy that kept getting worse. All the way through high school, I was literally out of school half the time with something. And art made a bad day better, and it was a great way to celebrate a good day…and so I did art every day and I took every art class I could.
You are now creating art as a blind artist. When did you lose your eyesight?
I lost my eyesight in college, and I thought I lost art, as well. But I learned how to use my hands to do everything that a person’s eyes do. And so now I draw with lines I can touch and feel. When I was sighted, I used to feel excited if a drawing or painting that I did looked like someone. But now it’s more important that it feels like someone… that it is that person. And that’s where the colors and emotions come in.
You just painted your first mural. What was the experience like? How does it differ from working in your studio?
It’s been a great experience! As far as I know, I am the first blind painter to do a mural. It’s my first mural, and it’s been incredible. I’m a studio artist; I work with museums quite a bit. I do commissions all the time. But what I do is paint! Yet, this is so much different. You’re on a wall that’s so much bigger. I’m not going to roll it up and send it away when it’s done. It lives there on that wall.
Does anything in particular about the experience stand out?
One of the things that made this so special is that I love to meet other artists and be around people who are just as obsessed with art as I am. In this project I’ve been able to work with Tony — Rubin 415 – and the whole crew here has been so energetic. For me it’s a dream come true to be able to work with artists who are passionate about what they do. It’s been amazing!
And what about the community? Lots of people have been passing by. How have they reacted?
That’s been my favorite part of this entire experience. I’ve painted live before, but this is a completely different experience. During the whole time I was putting this up, people were coming over. This is where they live, and I feel as though I am painting it in their home! The feedback has been so positive! People seem grateful that you are making their community more beautiful and bringing energy to it. They come over and hug us! Today a little boy stopped by and added a bit to the mural – and so we have one more street artist in the making!
Now that you’ve painted your first mural, can you tell us a bit about what your plans are for the future? Do you plan to paint more murals?
I do. I expect to be painting a mural in Dallas to help a non-profit. And I will be working more with museums. October is National Disability Awareness Month, and I will be traveling all over the country. And I would definitely love to do more mural work. The impact it has on the community is incredible. You just can’t beat it!
Photos by Karin du Maire; interview conducted by Karin du Maire and edited by Lois Stavsky
Support for this inspiring project has been provided by See Now.
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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A global art movement connecting world-wide artists with local artists in Ecuador, Fiesta de Colores brought together 25 international, national and local artists to collaborate with the community of Canoa last year. Six months after the earthquake had destroyed much of the Ecuadorian coast and killed hundreds of people, Fiesta de Colores created an outdoor mural gallery of over 30 large-scale murals, while sharing skills and ideas with the community.
This November the project will be expanded with an additional 30 murals, along with a deepening of the partnership with the local high school. It will also be extended to the Amazonian region of Ecuador, where artists and the community will work together to create public art projects and bio-murals to promote environmental awareness.
Tomorrow, September 28, you can support the project by joining Fiesta de Colores, the Public Service Artists Guild, and Chemistry Creative for an evening of art, music, food, spirits and camaraderie. Tickets can be purchased here. If you are unable to attend the fundraiser, but would still like to support these projects, you can donate to its online fundraiser here.
What follows are a few of the many works that will be on exhibit and for sale at tomorrow’s fundraiser:
The event takes place from 7-11PM at Chemistry Creative, 315 Ten Eyck in Williamsburg
Note: The first three photos are from Fiesta de Colores, 2016
1 Don Rimx
3 Don Rimx, Layqa Nuna Yawar and Gera Luz
All images courtesy Kristy McCarthy
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Deeply passionate about street art and graffiti, Green Villain has curated dozens of walls in a range of styles in Jersey City and beyond, including many in NYC. On September 29th, the public is invited to celebrate the launch of Green Villain‘s second volume in an ongoing book series documenting various projects. Vol. II: Mural Program is a 124 page time capsule of the past four years of productions. The mural pictured above was painted in Jersey City by Victor Ving of Greetings Tour in 2015. What follows are several more images of street art and graffiti — featured in the new book — that have surfaced in Jersey City. Specific locations of the artworks are provided in Vol. II: Mural Program.
Zimer, Jersey City, 2016
Rime, Jersey City, 2015
Dmote aka Shank, Jersey City, 2015
Clarence Rich, Jersey City, 2017
Rotterdam-based Eelco, Jersey City, 2014
Austrian artist Nychos, Jersey City, 2016
All are invited to join the Limited Edition Photo Book Launch —
Date: September 29th
Time: 6PM – 10PM
Address: 218 Central Ave, Floor 2, Jersey City
Music: Soul/Funk Vinyl Selections by Open Crates
Catered Food and Beverages by River Horse
The following photographers contributed to Vol. II: Mural Program: Charles A Boyce, Vincent Marchetto, Marek Pagoda, Gregory D. Edgel, Billy Schon, Andrea Riot, Jayne Freeman and William Benzon.
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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A multidisciplinary artist and stage designer based in Quito, Ecuador, Irving Ramó recently shared his talents with us on his recent visit — sponsored by Somos Fuana — to New York City To the delight of us street art aficionados, he painted alongside Colombian artists Guache and Praxis on a wall curated by Spread Art NYC. While he was here, I had the opportunity to speak to him.
What brought you to NYC?
I traveled from Ecuador for an exhibit featuring my recent work — an investigation into my ancestor’s writings.
What spurred your interest into conducting that kind of research?
Curiosity! I’m obsessed with ancient civilizations that have disappeared.
And while you were here in NYC, I was introduced to you through your mural art! When did you first start painting on public spaces?
I started in Quito about five years ago.
And where else have you done public art?
I’ve also painted in Spain and here in the US in Miami and now in NYC.
Do you work with a sketch-in-hand when you paint on a public surface? Or do you just let it flow?
I often use a photo as a reference, and I have a rough sketch with me.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?
I usually feel happy!
Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with other artists?
I can adapt to any kind of situation. I’m happy to have a chance to collaborate with others.
You are amazingly versatile. Do you have a formal art education?
I studied graphic and industrial design. But I am mostly self-taught.
How has your aesthetic evolved through the years?
It changes every day – depending on what I need to express at the time.
What do you see as the role of the artist in society?
It’s to give visual expression to ideas. To show people that ideas can be real.
Images:
1 In Bushwick, Brooklyn with Spread Art NYC, 2017
2 Exhibit at Martillo in Barcelona, Spain, 2016
3 Gargar Festival in the of village of Penelles, Spain, 2016
4 With La Suerte and Apitatan in Quito, 2017
5 Close-up from collaborative wall with La Suerte and Apitatan in Quito, 2017
Photos: 1 Karin du Maire, 2-5 courtesy of the artist; interview Lois Stavsky
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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