Lower East Side

At First Street Green Art Park: Shev Lunatic, Curve, Gorey & Exacto, Cram & Ratchi, Slash FTR, Sintex, Lexi Bella, Grimace NYC & More

January 22, 2025

Under the curatorial direction of Jonathan Neville, First Street Green Art Park continues to host a wondrously diverse array of local, national and global artists. The elegant image featured above was painted by the Germany-based, Ukrainian artist Shev Lunatic. Several more images captured on recent visits to First Street Green Art Park follow:

Veteran graffiti writer Curve 

  Parisian artist Seb Gorey with multidisciplinary artist Exacto

Cram and Ratchi

Veteran graffiti artist Slash, FTR

Noted Detroit artist Sintex

NYC-based muralist Lexi Bella and graffiti artist Grimace NYC

First Street Green Art Park is located between Houston and First Street off the F train’s Second Avenue stop — just where Manhattan’s Lower East Side meets the East Village

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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Landmark Festival Lands Back at First Street Green Art Park: Doves, Jaek El Diablo, Stash, Shiro, Jerms, Topaz & Andre Trenier 

September 5, 2024

On Thursday, August 22nd, First Street Green Art Park once again hosted a Landmark Festival event under the curatorial direction of the indefatigable Kath Storch. Murals by established artists who had painted on huge canvases earlier in the month were once again displayed, while artists painted alongside them. The vibrant mural featured above was crafted by the wildly talented Lower East Side-based artist Doves. What follows are several more images captured during the event by photographer Ana Candelaria.

French artist Jaek El Diablo at work

Jaek El Diablo, Mural on canvas

Veteran graffiti pioneer and designer Stash with Shiro‘s characters to the right and left

Queens legends Jerms and Topaz paint the renowned rapper/producer Large Professor 

NYC-based, Japanese hip-hop culture enthusiast and artist Shiro

Bronx-born and bred Andre Trenier 

Photos: Ana Candelaria

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LeCrue Eyebrows: “Thoughts Moving Forward” Continues Through August 25 at Van Der Plas Gallery on the Lower East Side

August 16, 2024

Marked by a distinctly endearing visual language, LeCrue Eyebrows‘ artworks exude both soulfulness and strength. His solo exhibition “Thoughts Moving Forward” — continuing through August 25th at Van Der Plas Gallery — showcases a wide array of his works, each with its own narrative. Featured above is She Nodded In Affirmation — fashioned this year with acrylic on canvas. Several more images — all captured by photographer and Street Art NYC contributor Ana Candelaria — follow:

With Seeds, 2024, Acrylic on canvas

The House We Make, 2024, Acrylic on canvas

It’s in the Tea, 2024, Acrylic on canvas

All That You Rule (R) and Day by Day (L), 2024, Acrylic on canvas

Wide view of select gallery space

Located at 156 Orchard Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Van Der Plas Gallery is open Mon-Sun: 11am-6pm.

Photos: Ana Candelaria

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“The Eyes Have It” Continues at Woodward Gallery With: John “Crash” Matos, Moody, Cosbe, Chico, stikman, Richard Hambleton & More

July 4, 2024

Currently on view at Woodward Gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side is “The Eyes Have It,” a delightful exhibition showcasing several contemporary artists’ interpretations of eyes, as distinct elements of larger images. Among these artists are many well-known to us street art and graffiti aficionados. The untitled image above was fashioned with enamel on canvas in 2019 by the legendary Bronx-based artist John Matos aka Crash. Several more diverse renderings of eyes follow:

Brooklyn-based Moody Mutz, “Berries and Grapes,” 2015, Acrylic on canvas

Hudson Valley-based Cosbe, “My Madonna Dot Com,” 2020, Mixed media on canvas

Lower East Side-based Chico, “Gene Simmons, Kiss Eyes,” ca. 2012, spray paint on plywood

Philly-based stikman, “133 Eldridge Street stikman,” 2010, Painted wooden cutout adhered to wooden board

The late, legendary Canadian artist Richard Hambleton, “Shadow Head Portrait,” 1997, Acrylic on paperboard and found frame

Daytime view

Nighttime view

This exhibition continues at Woodward Gallery, located at 132A Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, through July. You can view the works in the gallery’s street-level windows 24/7 or by appointment by contacting Art@WoodwardGallery.net.

Photo credits: 1-5 and 8 courtesy Woodward Gallery, 6 & 7 Lois Stavsky

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Honoring Patti Astor, the Queen of the Downtown Scene: Meres, LA2, Dezo, Shiro, Al Ruiz, Stash, Delta2, Matthew A. Eller & More

June 25, 2024

On the weekend of June 15, First Street Green Art Park was home to dozens of legendary artists, first-rate photographers, and graffiti aficionados as they came together to pay tribute to Fun Gallery co-founder Patti Astor, who had passed away in April. The first art gallery in Manhattan’s East Village to feature the works of such noted artists as Futura 2000, Lady Pink, Lee Quinones, Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fun Gallery ran out of a small storefront  but had enormous impact.

The mural featured above was painted by 5POINTZ founder and the wonderfully versatile artist Meres One. Several more images captured last week in this event curated by Kate Storch, Jimmy NYC and Crime79 follow:

Lower East Side native and former Keith Haring collaborator Angel Ortiz aka LA2

Veteran writer Dezo, TC5 with Kate Storch on left

The prolific Japanese writer, muralist and designer Shiro One

Uptown-based designer, painter and muralist Al Ruiz

The legendary graffiti pioneer Stash

 Veteran East Harlem-native writer and painter Delta2

NYC-based photographer Matthew A Eller, Segment from larger wall of photos featuring Patti Astor in a range of settings

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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Freeman Alley Mural Art: Hydrane, Uloang, Michael Alan Alien, Fat Cap Sprays, Floyd Mendoza, Kosuke James and Ratchi

December 29, 2023

In addition to hosting dozens of intriguing wheatpastes and stickers, Freeman Alley is also home to several rotating beguiling murals — many fashioned by artists who are briefly visiting NYC. The geometric image pictured above was painted by French-Peruvian artist Hydrane. Several more murals, captured on my recent visit to this iconic location, follow:

Venezuelan artist Uloang paints the Mexican fictional character El Chavo

NYC-based Michael Alan Alien 

London-based Fat Cap Sprays

Texas-based Floyd Mendoza 

Brooklyn-based Kosuke James

NYC-based Ratchi

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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At First Street Green Art Park: Deps One, Cram Concepts, Ratchi, Outer Source, Jeff Henriquez, Trasheer, Ramsteko, Rah Artz & Optimo NYC

November 22, 2023

Showcasing some of my favorite artists, along with others who are new to me, First Street Green Art Park — located where  Manhattan’s Lower East Side meets the East Village — is one of our city’s treasures. The image featured above was fashioned by Carson DeYoung aka Deps One, a former Brooklynite now based in Tucson, Arizona. Several more images that have surfaced in the past few months at First Street Green Art Park follow:

NYC-based Cram Concepts, Ratchi and Outer Source — segment from a huge collaborative production

Brooklyn-based Jeff Henriquez 

Mexico City-based Trasheer

Mexico City-based Nerik Martinez aka Ramsteko

Ezra Cumbo aka Rah Artz

The prolific OptimoNYC  for Dopey podcast

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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At Freeman Alley: Miki Mu, SacSix, crkshnk, City Kitty, OH!, Drecks, Lola Lovenotes, Lasak, Stealth Art, Crash 42170, Mrs and More

June 5, 2023

An oasis of motley murals, graffiti art, paste-ups, stickers, tags and bombs. Freeman Alley has it all! The image pictured above was painted by Brooklyn-based artist and curator Miki Mu. Several more images captured on a recent visit follow:

SacSix, crkshnk, City Kitty, OH!, Drecks and more

Bronx-based artist and educator Lola Lovenotes

Brooklyn-based Ecuadorian artist Lasak

Mixed-media artist Drecks

Stealth Art and more

The enigmatic Crash 42170

Bronx-based graffiti and textile artist Mrs

17-year-old Soup 64

Freeman Alley is located at 12 Rivington Street, off the Bowery.

Photos: 1-8 Lois Stavsky; 9 Amelia Cleary

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ChrisRWK Solo Exhibition, “Promise Made. Promise Kept,” Opens Saturday, February 11, at Harman Projects

February 9, 2023

With its fusion of graffiti, comic and fine art aesthetics, ChrisRWK‘s artworks — both on and off the streets — have long captivated us. His beloved robot character has made its way onto just about every surface — from stickers to canvasses to huge vehicles to massive walls. Opening this Saturday evening at Harman Projects is his solo exhibition, “Promise Made. Promise Kept,” showcasing a range of new artworks, including a 3D rendition of his iconic robot.

Featured above is ChrisRWK‘s mixed media painting “Tale Be Told,” one of his 12 x 12 inch artworks on exhibit. Several more images of artworks from “Promise Made. Promise Kept” follow:

True to the Blue, 12 x 12 in.

Lost Amongst Ghosts and Shadows, 12 x 12 in.

Beat the Odds, 6 x 6 in.

At the Top of My Lungs, 12 x 12 in.

For Giving, Bronze Sculpture

A reception for “Promise Made. Promise Kept” will be held this Saturday evening, February 11, at Harman Projects from 6-8pm.  Located at 210 Rivington Street on the Lower East Side, the gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10am – 6pm. “Promise Made. Promise Kept” remains on view until Saturday, March 4th

And be sure to check here to read Gallery Director Raul Barquet‘s illuminating interview with ChrisRWK, published this past week in Juxtapoz.

All photos courtesy Harman Projects

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ROYAL FLUSH Continues at Van Der Plas Gallery Showroom with Clown Soldier, Al Diaz, Jason McLean, Clayton Patterson, Susan Day, Devon Marinac & More

October 13, 2022

On view concurrently with LeCrue Eyebrows’ solo show at Van Der Plas Gallery is ROYAL FLUSH, a group exhibition featuring delightfully intriguing artworks by ten remarkably creative artists.

The huge mixed-media artwork featured above, Numb, was fashioned by Clown Soldier, whose now-iconic signature character I first encountered on NYC streets over a decade ago. Several more images of artworks — all by artists whose works have also surfaced in public spaces — now on view in ROYAL FLUSH follow:

The ever-inventive Al Diaz presents the wonderfully sardonic philosophical and political musings of SAMO©, the project that began in the late 70’s in collaboration with the now-legendary Basquiat

Brooklyn-based Canadian artist Jason McLean, “Gold Home,” 2022, Acrylic paint and acrylic ink Pental brush pen over found canvas

Legendary Lower East Side documentarian and visual artist Clayton Patterson, “Blue Knife,” 2021, Embroidery on fabric

London, Ontario-based ceramic artist Susan Day, “Untitled Mosaic No. 2,” 2022, Ceramic, glaze and underglaze

Toronto-based multimedia artist Devon Marinac, “Alpha Mantle Peace,” 2022, Acrylic on canvas

ROYAL FLUSH continues at Van Der Plas Gallery‘s  downstairs showroom through October 23. Located at  156 Orchard Street, the gallery is open Mon-Tue: 12pm-5pm, Wed-Sat: 11pm-6pm and Sunday: 11am-5pm. A closing reception will take place on Friday, October 21 from 6-8pm.

Photos of images and artists: Lois Stavsky

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