A range of comic characters — from Calvin and Hobbes to Snow White to Batman — have made their way onto NYC walls. Here are a few:
John Matos aka Crash in the South Bronx for the Tag Public Arts Project
Ozmo in Little Italy for the LISA Project
Jerkface in Bushwick
Mr OneTeas at the Bushwick Collective
See One at the Bushwick Collective
Photos 1, 4 – 6 by Lois Stavsky; 2 by Tara Murray & 3 by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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Founded by John Matos aka Crash and Robert Kantor and directed by Anna Matos, WallWorks NY is a wonderful new gallery space at 39 Bruckner Boulevard in the South Bronx. While visiting its current — and final — unofficial exhibit, Open Gallery, we had the opportunity to speak to Anna.
When did WallWorks NY open?
We had our first “unofficial” opening exhibition, First Taste, on September 12. Its focus was on promoting street art and graffiti as a viable art form within galleries and museums. Among the many local and international artists whose works were featured were: Daze, Futura, Nick Walker, Stash and TATS CRU members: Bio, Nicer and BG 183. This was followed by Point. Focus. Click. featuring photos – that had never been exhibited before — by such photographers as Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, Joe Conzo, David Gonzalez, Lisa Kahane, Francisco Reyes II and Ricky Flores.
This current exhibit, Open Gallery, introduces us to many new artists.
Yes. It’s our final show before our official opening next month. Along with works by emerging local artists in Open Gallery, are artworks in various media by artists from around the country – many of whom had never exhibited their works in a gallery setting before.
How have these “unofficial” openings gone?
The response has been great. And the success that we’ve achieved so far is more than we could have imagined!
Why did you choose to open a gallery in the South Bronx?
Why not the South Bronx? Its history is so rich, and hopefully we will encourage people to visit it.
What is WallWork’s NY’s mission?
In the experimental and explorative vein of Fashion MODA, we want to exhibit new and exciting work from both emerging and established artists.
How did this space come to be?
My father, Crash, had dreamed for a long time of opening a gallery, and I loved the idea of directing one. On our trips into the city, we repeatedly passed this empty space on Bruckner Boulevard – that we saw as a potential site for a gallery. After discussing it with an art dealer in Paris last summer, my father said, “Let’s do it!” And then a partnership with entrepreneur Robert Kantor made it possible for my father to realize his dream.
What experiences and skills do you bring to your position as gallery director?
I grew up around art. As a child, I regularly accompanied by father to his studio – where I would sit and draw. For a long time, in fact, I thought I would be an artist. But as a senior in high school, I discovered that I was more interested in the concepts behind the art than in creating art. I then majored in Art History with a double minor of Philosophy and Black Studies at Fairfield University, and after graduating from college, I studied Art Business at FIT. And in addition to several internships, including one as Special Project Manager the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, I served as a liaison for my father, assisting him in everything from creating a strong social media presence to installing and selling art. I see myself as someone who is committed to each artist’s personal development and financial success — as well as to the success of the gallery.
What’s ahead?
Our official launch takes place on next Saturday, January 10, with Ikonoklasts, featuring never-before-seen works by three legendary NYC artists: A-One, Dondi White and Rammallzee. Following Ikonoklasts will be our first solo show featuring works on canvas by Nicer of TATS CRU.
That sounds wonderful! We are looking forward!
Interview conducted by City-as-School intern Zachariah Messaoud and edited by Lois Stavsky; photos by Lois Stavsky
Photos
1. TATS CRU
2. Anna Matos, gallery director
3. Such Styles
4. Buz163
5. Funqest
Note: Open Gallery continues until January 7 at 39 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx.
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With Sheryo and the Yok completing the missing letter — S — , the B-U-S-H-W-I-C-K mural at the Bushwick Collective is now complete. Here are some images:
Sexer at work after completing the letter ‘B.’ Letter ‘U’ by David Louf aka June1 to its right
Sheryo and the Yok, the letter ‘S’
Dasic Fernandez at work on the letter ‘H’
Billy Mode at work on the letter ‘W’
Eelco ’Virus’ Van den Berg, the letter ‘I’, with Bushwick Collective founder and curator Joe Ficalora to its right
John Matos aka Crash, the letter ‘C’
Zimad at work on the final letter, ‘K’
With some additions
Photo credits: 1, 4 & 7 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2, 3, 5, 6 & 8 by Lois Stavsky
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Currently on view at Dorian Grey Gallery in the East Village is Strada Veloce, an intriguing exhibit largely fusing the divergent — seemingly contradictory — cultures of luxury autos and expressive graffiti. Here are a few more works (Cope2 pictured above):
Luxury car customizer and furniture designer Joe MAC Lapadula of Martino Auto Concepts
Nick Walker‘s iconic vandal
A luxurious sofa featuring graffiti by Meres One
And — in the window — a reproduction of a Ferrari painted by the legendary John “Crash” Matos
This exhibit continues through next Sunday at 437 East 9th Street between 1st Ave and Ave A. The gallery is open today — Sunday — from 12pm-6pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm.
Photos 1, 2 and 3 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; photo 4 by City-as-School intern Robert Verdejo; photo 5 by City-as-School intern Tyler Dean Flores and final photo by Lois Stavsky.
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Yesterday at noon, the 14th edition of the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame, presented by Joey TDS and James Top, was officially launched inside the famed East Harlem schoolyard on 106th Street and Park Avenue. Here is a small sampling of what went down during the early afternoon:
Bver
And earlier in the week, Tats Cru — with Crash and Nick Walker — fashioned a huge mural outside the school yard. Here are some close-ups:
The 14th edition of the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame continues today from noon to 8pm.
Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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The legendary Bronx-based graffiti artist John Matos aka Crash has been busy these days — with work on the streets, on exhibit and on Ferrari cars. Here’s a sampling:
At work on the Lower East Side last month for the Lisa Project
Recently-completed mural up in the Bronx for TAG Public Arts Project
At opening of Broken English at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery
With spray paint on canvas in Broken English at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Wrapped in My Own Existence
On exhibit in City as Canvas at the Museum of the City of New York, acrylic on canvas, 1986
For the Crash Ferrari Art Project, a collaborative venture with Joe “MAC” of Martino Auto Concepts and the Dorian Grey Gallery, on exhibit beginning today, July 24, through July 28 at Art Southampton
Photos: 1, 3 and 5 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; photo 2 by Lois Stavsky; photo 4 courtesy of the artist and photos 6-8, courtesy Bettina Cataldi
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Located at 5-25 46th Avenue in Long Island City — just minutes from Manhattan — the Fridge Art Fair has much to offer us street art aficionados. Here’s a sampling:
John Matos aka Crash presented by Dorian Grey Gallery
Cody and Youth Waste
Alone One with the The Sticker Social Club aka the Secret Sticker Club
The Sticker Social Club aka the Secret Sticker Club — under the curatorial direction of Cosbe
Conceived by Eric Ginsburg, whose portraits of pets are on display at the fair’s Dorfman Projects booth, the Fridge Art Fair — now in its second year — presents an eclectic array of art in all media and styles. It continues through Sunday with live art and performances throughout, as well as pets for adoption today and tomorrow!
Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson and Lois Stavsky
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Blurring the lines among abstract graffiti, pop art and fine art, Dorian Grey’s current exhibit, Flow, features the works of the legendary Bronx-based artist John Matos aka Crash and UK’s Remi Rough. Some of the works were painted individually; others were fashioned collaboratively. All are distinctly stylish. Here’s a sampling:
Remi Rough and Crash, Make her blue eyes blue
Remi Rough, Never yours completely
Crash, Fantastic
Remi Rough and Crash, Letter R reconstructed
Remi Rough and Crash, Eye 03
Remi Rough and Crash, Letter C reconstructed
Flow continues through February 23, 2014 at Dorian Grey, 437 East 9th Street and Avenue A.
Photo of Make her blue eyes blue by Lois Stavsky; all others photos of artworks by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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The walls in the industrial neighborhood of Hunts Point up in the Bronx are among NYC’s most vibrant. Within the past few weeks, over a dozen diverse pieces have surfaced. While some are rooted in traditional graffiti and others cross genres, they all exude distinct charm and energy. Here is a sampling captured this past week:
Swedish artist Rubin415 and Chilean artists Dasic Fernandez and Zewok
Zewok close-up
Bristol legend Inkie in from London
The legendary Bronx native John Matos aka Crash
Bristol’s famed Nick Walker and West coast artist Mark Bode
New York City’s Yes2
Photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky
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The weather was glorious yesterday as the huge wall on Drake Street in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx served as a canvas for some of NYC most famed writers, along with their guests, including the legendary DJ Goldie in from the UK. Here are some images from the day:
Bio at work
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