community art

At Uptown Grand Central in East Harlem, Part II: Anna Lustberg, Lola Lovenotes, Evan Bishop, Alexis Duque, KingBee & Diego Molina

October 1, 2025

During these past few months, the murals along East 125 Street and its surrounding blocks continued to beautify East Harlem with intrigue and charm. The homage to the late Harlem-born artist Faith Ringgold — featured above — was painted by NYC-based, New Jersey-bred artist Anna Lustberg.

What follows is a selection of images captured in our continued 2025 documentation of Uptown Grand Central:

Anna Lustberg poses in front of her mural while in progress

Bronx-based Lola Lovenotes

Yonkers-based Evan Bishop

Colombian artist Alexis Duque

Bronx-based KingBee

Newark-based Diego Molina

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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At Uptown Grand Central in East Harlem: Shiro One, Noah Xifr, DaQuane Cherry, Marthalicia, Phes, Dee & Jabrenica

August 14, 2025

As the summer months progress, the walls along East 125 Street and its surrounding blocks continue to evolve. The exuberant mural featured above was painted by the legendary Japanese NYC-based artist Shiro One. Several more images of murals — several by artists who are new to us and all hosted by Uptown Grand Central — that have recently emerged follow:

Madrid, Spain-born multidisciplinary artist Noah Xifr

Self-taught North Carolina-native, Harlem-based multidisciplinary artist DaQuane Cherry

Harlem-born and bred muralist and painter Marthalicia Matarrita

Brazilian-American multidisciplinary artist Jon Souza AKA Phes

Multimedia artist and educator Dee at work on her second public mural

Multidisciplinary artist Jordana Alexis Abrenica adds finishing touches to her “love truck” mural

Photos by Lois Stavsky; artists researched by Tara Murray

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At Underhill Walls: Phetus, Zimer, Andre Trenier, Jeff Rose King, Kelvin Morel, Marissa Molina and Aída Miró

July 16, 2025

Flowing with rhythm and cadence, the current installation of murals at Underhill Walls is a delightful salute to music and musicians. The frenzied “Muppet Show” featured above was painted by veteran artist Phetus 88. Several more images from the most recent iteration at Underhill Walls follow:

Multimedia artist Zimer does Bob Dylan

Bronx native Andre Trenier does Diana Ross

Queens native Jeff Rose King does Puerto Rican rapper and singer Tego Calderón

Dominican Republic native Kelvin Morel aka Kam does Elvis Presley

Multidisciplinary artist Marissa Molina paints “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”

Bronx-based Aída Miró does Mary Blige

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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The Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25 with: Rae Akino, Cortney Mohring, Mahkai Dominique, Shani Shih, KyCo, Limetyme & David Dez Zambrano

July 9, 2025

On my recent visit to DC, I made my way over to the Capital Hill Boys Club — the site of a mural festival that took place this past spring in Anacostia, a historic neighborhood in Southeast Washington, D.C. A model of community engagement, the 2025 festival features dozens of murals fashioned by artists who share a notable kinship to the neighborhood and its residents.

The arresting image featured above was painted by the self-taught artist and arts educator Rae Akino. Several more images of murals I captured in the blazing, blinding sun follow:

Designer and painter Cortney Mohring

Self-taught multidisciplinary artist Mahkai Dominique‘s first public mural with a message to its viewers that they are “watched over with love”

Multidisciplinary visual artist and educator Shani Shih, a portrait of Tia Bell, founder of the Trigger Project, a DC-based violence prevention project

Self-taught artist KyCo, an homage to Sierra Leonean–American ballet dancer and author Michaela DePrince, who died last year at the age of 29

The wildly creative multidiscinplnary artist Limetyme aka Rich

Painter and custom designer David Dez Zambrano

Dozens more murals can be viewed at 1603 Marion Barry Ave and its immediate environs in Anacostia, DC.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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At Welling Court with: Peach Tao, Annabelle Popa, Luch, Black Box Art Studio, Jason B, Matt Furman, Demetrius Felder & Wore One

June 19, 2025

On my recent visit to Welling Court and its immediate environs, I was greeted by dozens of new murals that continue to bring beauty and intrigue to this distinctly diverse Astoria, Queens neighborhood. The image featured above — “a nod to all the delivery guys through rainy and sunny days” — was painted by Brooklyn-based, Beijing-born muralist, illustrator and educator Peach Tao aka peacheeblue. Several more images captured this past Sunday follow:

New York-based muralist and illustrator Annabelle Popa

Colombia-born artist Luch in his distinct style that that “symbolizes the duality between the beauty and fragility of everything around us.”

West New York, NJ-based Black Box Art Studio artists Eduardo Jimenez aka Yoskills and Misael Morales aka Loky Oner, close-up from huge collaborative mural

Local self-taught Filipino artist Jason B at work on his Astoria, Queens logo

Astoria, Queens-based cartoonist and painter Matt Furman

Bronx native illustrator and painter Demetrius Felder

The veteran NYC graffiti writer Wore One

Currently curated by a diverse collective of local residents, Welling Walls — as the community-based arts project is now termed — will continue the tradition of hosting annual block parties, as well as beautifying its environs.

Note: Keep posted to the Street Art NYC Instagram and Threads for more images of recently-surfaced walls in Welling Court.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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New at the Bushwick Collective: Sef1, Contrabandre, Huetek, Gigstar & Minus One, Tymon de Laat, Ashley Hodder & Enzo

June 9, 2025

The 14th Annual Bushwick Collective Block Party brought a wonderfully diverse array of local, national and international artists to Brooklyn’s iconic outdoor gallery. The image featured above — a masterly fusion of realism and graffiti — was painted by Lima, Peru native Roberto Seminario aka Sef1. A tribute to Bushwick Collective founder and curator Joe Ficalora, it portrays Joe as a child, playing with his cousin Frank — with Joe’s mother in the background. Several more images from the Bushwick Collective‘s new walls follow:

Sef1 captured earlier at work

Newark-born artist Andre Leon aka Contrabandre does the legendary Rakim

Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Huetek’s tribute to Static, D-stroy, Termanology and Nems

Gigstar and Minus One paint “Clash Of The Titans” — dedicated to CAE4

Dutch artist Tymon de Laat, “Break ICE and Make Waves,” featuring Gumskie, a Filipino surfer

Pittsburgh-based Ashley Hodder returns with her distinctly dreamy flair

French artist Enzo‘s sublimely conceived otherworldly mural

Note: Keep posted to the Street Art NYC Instagram and Threads for more images of recently-surfaced walls at the Bushwick Collective.

Photo Credits: 1, 3-8 Lois Stavsky; 2 Tara Murray

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At First Street Green Art Park with: Ottograph, Turtle Caps, Klonism, Yurica, Chris Cortes, Lexi Bella, El Souls, Humble, Osk and Steel

May 15, 2025

Under the curatorial direction of Jonathan Neville, First Street Green Art Park continues to be home to a wondrously diverse array of local, national and international artists. The delightfully intriguing image pictured above was painted by the Amsterdam-based artist Ottograph. What follows is a close-up from Ottograph‘s mural and several more photos of artworks currently on view at First Street Green Art Park.

Detail from Ottograph mural

Queens-based Turtle Caps and UK native Klonism

Colombian artist Yurica Uno and Queens-based Chris Cortes

Brooklyn-based Lexi Bella does Volodymyr Zelensky

Bronx-based El Souls and NYC/VA artist Humble Makes Art

NYC-based Colombian artist Osk

Bay Area-based artist Steel MSK

Photo credits: 1, 3-5, 7 & 8 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 6 Tara Murray

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“Street Theory” Multi-Year Initiative, “A Canvas of Culture,” Brings Dazzling Murals to Boston Public Schools: Detour, Don Rimx, Spaik, Felipe Ortiz and Silvia Lopez Chavez

February 6, 2025

In 2024, the award-winning creative agency Street Theory‘s multi-year initiative, A Canvas of Culture — under the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture — brought several vibrant, breathtaking murals to various school locations in Boston. The luscious mural featured above “Together, We Rise” — located at the Joyce Kilmer K-8 Lower School in West Roxbury — was painted by Denver-based artist Thomas Evans aka as Detour. Several more images of A Canvas of Culture murals currently gracing Boston Public Schools — all completed this past summer — follow:

Orlando-based Don Rimx, “Garden of Beginnings” and “Roots of Empowerment,” located at the Lee Academy Pilot School in Dorchester

Mexican muralist Israel “Spaik” Guerra Romero, “In Lak’ech Hala Ken – Yo soy tu – tu eres otro yo,” located at Curtis Guild Elementary School in East Boston

Colombian artist Felipe Ortiz, “Umana Rising,” located at Mario Umana Academy in East Boston

Dominican-American artist Silvia Lopez Chavez, “Brilla,” located at Rafael Hernandez K-8 Dual Language School in Roxbury

A Canvas of Culture is currently commissioning several new, original, long-term murals and 2D public art installations at Boston Public School sites across the city. Each project budget will range from $20,000 – $175,000. Specific details and applications are available here and here. The deadline for submissions is February 26, 2025 at 5 p.m. ET.

Photos of 2024 A Canvas of Culture murals by OLP Creative

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The Grandscale Mural Project in East Harlem, Part II: Mas Paz & Guache, Diego Molina, DaQuane Cherry, Al Ruiz, Marthalicia Matarrita, Jose Aurelio Baez and Chelsea Garcia with Jio

December 7, 2023

On my most recent visit to this year’s Grandscale Mural Project in East Harlem, I came upon dozens of more alluring murals that have recently surfaced. The mural featured above was painted by Mas Paz and Guache, two Colombia-born multidisciplinary artists. Several more images representative of the extraordinary range of mural art gracing East Harlem in the vicinity of 125th Street follow:

New Jersey native Diego Molina

Local artist DaQuane Cherry

Queens native Al Ruiz

Local artist Marthalicia Matarrita

Bronx native Jose Aurelio Baez

Bronx-based Chelsea Garcia and Jio assess their work in progress

Photos; Lois Stavsky

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At the Legendary Graffiti Hall of Fame: Skeme, Miki Mu, Vens, Delta 2, Cope 2, Jaek El Diablo, Will Power, Phen, NAC 143, Scratch & More

August 23, 2023

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