graffiti art

With Valeri Larko at the Bronx Museum of the Arts

June 9, 2016

On view through June 26 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts is Bronx Focus: Paintings by Valeri Larko, an extraordinary visual ode to a borough whose landscape is rapidly changing. Among Valeri Larko‘s paintings are many that are infused with the Bronx’s gritty graffiti. With her impeccable renderings of tags, throw-ups and pieces, the artist has immortalized our favorite art form in the borough that birthed it. On revisiting the exhibit last week, I had the opportunity to meet Valeri, who gave a tour of her exhibit.

We love the way you are keeping some of our favorite walls alive through your paintings. What spurred you to focus on this aspect of the Bronx?

I’ve always been interested in the urban landscape, and when I moved from New Jersey to New Rochelle — just a short drive from the Bronx — I discovered the just how rich the graffiti in the Bronx is. I think it is gorgeous, and I love how sites with graffiti always have great stories to tell.

Can you tell us something about your process? How long does it take from beginning to end to create a painting?

Everything is done on location. If a site interests me, I begin with a quick pen and ink sketch in a small notebook using a uni-ball pen. If I then decide that I want to do a painting of the particular scene, I do an oil sketch of it. For most of my studies, I work on 300 pound watercolor paper that I staple to a board. For the larger version, I typically paint two to three months, also on location.

What are some of the challenges you face in producing this work?

The weather is, by far, my greatest challenge. The wind is my biggest enemy. My car is — many times — my only shelter, and that is where you will often find me painting, especially in the winter months.

How do the graffiti artists feel about what you are doing?

They love it. If they see a blank surface at a particular space where I am painting, they will sometimes ask if they can leave their mark on it — to be included in my painting.

What is your most memorable experience of painting on location?

There are so many, but here is one that comes to mind: I had been working at a site for several weeks on Top Dollar, a painting of a trailer truck. Then one day when I showed up, I was surprised to find a very large boat in front of the truck. I could’t imagine how it got there! Luckily, I had mostly finished the painting, and the boat seemed too clean, too pristine and too out of place to include. But a few days later, the graffiti artist SAET with his friend NARO showed up. Once SAET had christened the boat with his tag, it was totally transformed. And so I decided to add the boat to the painting. I was even thinking of doing a new painting of the boat. But that never happened!

Why was that? Why didn’t you get to do the new painting of the boat?

While I was still working on Top Dollar, Tommy — who was living in the Jay’s Hot Dog Camper — informed me that the site was about to be demolished. That is one of the hazards of working on site. Whoa! I still needed at least a week to finish my painting. Luckily I found the guys doing the demolition work, and they agreed to give me one more week to complete my painting! It actually took me eight days, and within hours after I finished, everything on the site was demolished. And what about Tommy who had been living in the camper? He headed on a Greyhound back home to Kansas City where he and his sons had built two houses!

What’s next? Are any walls calling you? Any sites that particularly intrigue you?

Yes! I discovered an abandoned golf course across from Co-op City. And since I don’t know how much longer it will be around, I’ve been heading there as often as I can!

What an incredible visual history you are creating! And we are already looking forward to your upcoming solo exhibit at WallWorks in the fall.

Images

1. Valeri Larko — as seen last week — at the Bronx Museum

2. Ferris Stahl Meyer Diptych, close-up

3. Corner of Boone Avenye and 173rd Street

4. Bronx Drawbridge

5. Valeri Larko painting at Top Dollar

6. Top Dollar

Photo credits: 1-3 Lois Stavsky; 4 City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen; 5 John Wyatt & 6 courtesy of the artist; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky with Sol Raxlen

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Back to Brooklyn Reclaimed with Panic, Amuze, ZA One, Kais, Wore, Kenji aka Python, Pase BT and Meres

June 2, 2016

We love how the walls at Brooklyn Reclaimed — under the curatorial direction of Meres One — have become rotating outdoor canvases. Pictured above is Panic Rodriguez at work. Here are a few more recent murals — some captured while in progress, and others when completed.

Amuze

ZA One at work

Kais

Wore at work

Kenji Takabayashi aka Python

Pase, BT

Meres

Photo credits: 1, 3 & 5 Tara Murray; 2, 4, 6-8 Lois Stavsky

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Street Art Expo NYC 2016 Celebrates Three Generations of Graffiti Art with: Part One, Flint Gennari, Alski, Nic 707, Moody Mutz, Plasma Slug, Chief 69 and more

May 24, 2016

This past Sunday, Elmhurst’s ELKS Lounge was home to Street Art Expo NYC, as it celebrated three generations of first-rate graffiti artists. Visitors — of all ages — had the opportunity to meet a wonderfully diverse range of artists, become acquainted with new products and purchase original artworks directly from the artists. Pictured above is the legendary Part One. Here’s a small sampling of what we saw:

Veteran writer and photographer Flint Gennari with photo he’d captured back in the day of Flip One in action

Old school writer and a sponsor of Street Art Expo NYC, Alski

Bronx-based veteran writer and founder and curator of InstaFame Phantom Art, Nic 707

Contemporary graffiti and street art legend Moody Mutz, AA Mobb

The prolific Brooklyn-based Plasma Slug

Bronx-based b-boy and graffiti artist, Chief 69

In addition to The Alski Show, other sponsors of Street Art Expo NYC included: Ironlak, TYOTOYS and Art Primo.

Photo credits: 1 & 5 Tara Murray; 2-4, 6 & 7 Lois Stavsky

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Her Story, the First Annual Female Graffiti Series, Launches Uptown with Lady K Fever, Mel1, Rocky 184, Charmin 65, Miss Boombox, Gem13 and Neks

May 16, 2016

This past Saturday, Her Story, the first annual female graffiti series, was launched at the legendary Inwood wall on Isham Street off 10th Avenue . While visiting, I had the opportunity to speak to the inimitable Lady K Fever.

Can you tell us something about Her Story’s mission?

We women are underrepresented in the graffiti world. The mission of Her Story is to provide us female writers with a supportive environment to tell our stories while sharing our skills with others.

Whose idea was it? And how did the concept for such a project become a reality?

We’ve been constantly talking — among ourselves — about the need for more opportunities. We feel that we don’t have anywhere as many opportunities — or access to spaces — as guys have. And, by chance, several weeks ago, Crane invited us to paint here on Isham and 10th Avenue.

How did you decide which artists to include in today’s launch?

We’ve all known each other for awhile, have painted together before and we get along well together. We are looking forward to including additional female writers in future jams.

The vibes here are great! Everyone seems to be having so much fun. What is your impression of this launch?

It’s been excellent! So many people came by to watch us paint, including many legendary old school writers. It’s been busy!

What’s ahead for Her Story?

With the sponsorship of The Bronx Graffiti Art Gallery and Hush Hip Hop Tours, we will be painting for the next six months in five boroughs in three states. On June 25th you can find us at Tuff City. Future spots include: Graffiti Universe and Hackensack, New Jersey. We will also be involved in the New York Restoration Project. In collaboration with Bette Midler’s foundation, we will be painting in a garden on July 30th, as part of the series, Ladies of the Bronx, highlighting the elements of hip hop.

It’s all very exciting! Good luck!

Images

1. Lady K Fever

2. Mel1

3. Rocky 184

4. Charmin 65

5. Miss Boombox with Bom5 dancing to its beat; Gem 13 on right

6. Gem13

7. Neks

Photos and interview by Lois Stavsky

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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At Brooklyn Reclaimed: An Oasis of Color and Style with Meres, Demer, Topaz, Jerms, Zimad and Bishop 203

April 22, 2016

With its vibrantly seductive murals, the exterior of Brooklyn Reclaimed — curated by Meres One — has become an oasis of color and style. Here are a few more graffiti murals that have recently surfaced — all by artists who’d frequented the former 5Pointz:

Demer

Topaz and Jerms

Zimad

Bishop 203 aka Jats

Photos by City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen

Keep posted to our Facebook page and Instagram for more graffiti and street art on the grounds of Brooklyn Reclaimed.

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.

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Miami’s Vibrant Graffiti Walls: Miro, Vejam, Gorey, Bulks, Vogue, Ligisd, Mastro and Krave

April 16, 2016

The range and scope of Miami’s graffiti walls are distinctly impressive. Local writers, along with artists from across the globe, make their mark in Wynwood, Overtown and beyond. Pictured above is Miro. Here are a few more I saw on my recent visit:

Photo credits: 1-6 & 8 Lois Stavsky; 7 Mastro

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The Drip Project at Mount Vernon’s Mes Hall with: Tracy 168, Plasma Slug, Belowkey, Stu, Snoeman, Kingbee and more

March 22, 2016

Hosting several renowned bands and musicians, Mount Vernon’s Mes Hall is also home to The Drip Project, an ever-evolving treasure trove of images painted by some of NYC’s best-known graffiti artists and most notorious bombers. Last week, we made our way to Mount Vernon to speak to Drip Project director Harris Lobel.

This is such an amazing space. What a treasure! How did you discover it?

I’ve known it for awhile. Several of my friends — who I grew up with in Riverdale — use it as a music studio.

And when did you begin curating it?

About six months ago.

Riverdale — where you grew up — is quite void of graffiti. Do you remember where and when you first noticed it?

Yes! I was eight years old when I discovered a piece by Tracy 168 on 231th Street and Broadway. I fell in love with it at once, and kept on returning to it.

And these days you seem to love it all! Your personal Instagram, @streetart_photography, features quite a range of street art and graffiti. When did you become so engaged with it all?

When Banksy was here in NYC in 2013 for his Better Out Than In residency, I kept up with his new works daily. Then — after he left — I continued hunting and photographing works on the streets. Within a short period of time, I became thoroughly obsessed with graffiti and street art.

We can certainly relate to that! How did you make contact with all the great writers who have painted here?

I’d met Plasma Slug awhile back, and he introduced me to many of the others. I also got the word out through my Instagram page.

Can you tell us something more about the Drip Project? What is the inspiration behind it?

It’s basically a collective featuring artists whose styles I love. The inspiration to launch it came from the photography I’ve posted on my Instagram page and the response that it got.

What do you see as your role? Where are you going?

I would like to promote the artists whose works I love by exhibiting their work and managing the placement of their works in gallery shows. I am also interested in producing a variety of original goods in different media that reflect their styles.

How does your family feel about this?

They love it! My father is a photographer and has been totally supportive.

You’ve done an amazing job — so far — in reaching out to so many first-rate artists. What has been your greatest challenge in launching the Drip Project?

Getting folks to come out to Mount Vernon — as many haven’t been here before. And providing artists with money for paint and transportation is another challenge.

How can artists who are interested in participating in the Drip Project contact you?

The best way would be via my email: Harris.Lobel@live.com.

And what about folks who would like to visit and check out the amazing art?

Yes! They can contact me too — at Harris.Lobel@live.com, and I will arrange to meet them here. There’s a bus from the last stop on the 2 train that stops nearby, and we are just a short walk from the Metro North.

It all sounds great — and so much fun! Good luck!

Images

1. Tracy 168

2. & 3. Plasma Slug

4. Belowkey

5. Stu

6. Snoeman

7. Kingbee

Photo credits: 1, 2 & 4 Lois Stavsky; 3, 5-7 Tara Murray; interview by Lois Stavsky

Note: This blog will be on vacation through March 30. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.

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Kron One, Nest 156 and Bind 156 on 207th Street in Upper Manhattan

March 21, 2016

When I stopped by the wall on 207th Street — one of my favorite Uptown spots — this past Friday, I met veteran writers Kron One, Nest 156 and Bind 156 at work on a mural to serve as a backdrop for a Minx video. Yesterday I returned to see the completed wall. What follows are a few images captured both days:

Nest 156 at work on Friday

Nest 156‘s completed piece

Kron One at work on Friday

Kron One, as seen yesterday

Bind 156 at work on Friday

Bind 156, as seen yesterday

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Hoacs on No Days Off, His First Solo Exhibit, at Eden Fine Art in SoHo

March 14, 2016

Currently on view at Eden Fine Art in SoHo is No Days Off, an ingenious installation of vibrant images in a range of media by the wonderfully gifted Queens-based graffiti master Hoacs. While visiting the space this past Friday — while Hoacs was adding the final touches to No Days Off for his Saturday evening opening — I had the opportunity to speak to him.`

This is amazing! What a brilliant installation! How long have you been working on it?

I began several months ago — in mid-December.

Integrated within the huge pieces painted on the walls is a range of media here. I love the varied surfaces you’ve painted on. Can you tell us something about that?

Yes! With the exception of several canvases, everything has been painted on pieces of discarded wood that I found. I hand sanded and treated them all before painting on them. Each is distinct.

What would you say was your greatest challenge in executing the installation — as everything seems to work so well together?

My chief concern was my choice of colors. It is important to me that the individuals walls — particularly those across from one another — work well together.

This space and this neighborhood couldn’t be more perfect! How did this wonderful space come your way?

A friend of mine, the jeweler Mr. Flawless — another Queens native — knows the owner of this gallery and introduced us.

What would you say is the principal difference between working on the streets and working in an indoor space like this one?

When I paint outdoors, I am at the mercy of the elements — the cold, the heat, the rain, the winds — and I often stop what I’m doing to speak to folks who drop by. I also tend to paint with others. Here — I am in my own world!

Are you satisfied with the way it is looking?

Yes! I got to do exactly what I wanted to do!

What about the title of the exhibit, No Days Off?

Graffiti is a passion that comes with huge demands! There are “no days off” for a graffiti writer!

How can folks see the exhibit?

Eden Fine Art SoHo is s located at 470 Broome Street and is open seven days a week, 9AM to 9PM.

That’s perfect! Congratulations!

Interview by Lois Stavsky

Photo credits: 1-3, 5.-8 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 4 Tara Murray

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.

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Blazing in Bushwick: Graffiti by Kems, Sp One, Amuse, Roachi, Toper, Fecks and Hoacs

March 12, 2016

Host to some of the most stylish graffiti walls in NYC, Bushwick never lets us down! These were captured this past week:

Roachi

And if you are anywhere in the vicinity, be sure to check out Hoacs’s brilliant solo exhibit opening tonight — Saturday — at Eden Fine Art.

Photos of Bushwick graffiti by Tara Murray

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.

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