Martin Wong

What began as an unsanctioned art form that surfaced on NYC streets and subways has since found its way into galleries, auction houses and museums. On view through August 10 at the MCNY is “Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection,” a celebration of graffiti’s transitional moment.

The image featured above, “Broken Wings,” was fashioned with spray paint, acrylic and wood on canvas in 1990 by the now-legendary Bronx-native John “Crash” Matos. What follows are several more highlights of previously unseen art from the late Martin Wong‘s vast collection on view in “Above Ground…”

The late Queens-born visionary and multidisciplinary artist Rammellzee, “Atomic Futurism,” 1987, Acrylic on canvas

Lower East Side native and former Keith Haring collaborator Angel Ortiz aka LA2, “Untitled,” 1988, Acrylic on canvas

Veteran East Harlem stylemaster Delta 2, “Delta 2,” 1984, Spray paint on canvas

The late legendary Brooklyn native Dondi, “Bishop of Battle,” 1985, Spray paint on canvas

The ever-evolving pioneering graffiti artist Futura, “Untitled,” 1983, Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

 Hollis, Queens native Lin “Quik” Felton, “My Recovery,” 1990-91, Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

In addition to works on canvas, “Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection” — curated by Sean Corcoran — also includes: photographs by Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant, a survey of graffiti tags and an insightful documentary featuring Martin Wong, Daze, Lee Quinones and Sharp.

Located at 220 Fifth Avenue between 103rd and 104th Streets, the MCNY is open Mon-Fri 10-5  |  Sat-Sun 10-6.

Photos of images by Lois Stavsky and Tara Murray

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Shoot the Pump, a wonderfully engaging exhibit featuring an eclectic mix of works in a range of media by two dozen NYC-based artists, continues through November 4 at Bullet Space, an urban artist collective at 292 East 3rd Street. Curated by Lee Quiñones, Alexandra Rojas and Andrew Castrucci, it is largely a pean to the ubiquitous fire hydrant and its massive significance to the lives and minds of NYC kids. Pictured above is Pink Pump fashioned with acrylic on canvas by the legendary Lady Pink. Several more images follow:

Barry Hazard, Water Main, Acrylic on wood, 2018

Martin Wong, I Really Like the Way Firemen Smell, Acrylic on canvas, c. 1988

John Ahearn, Point Guard Renzo, Acrylic on reinforced plaster, 2018

Bobby G, Superzentrierte, Oil and aluminum paint on canvas, 1983

Alexandra Rojas in collaboration with John Ahearn, Installation; Hydrant water on oil shellac and reinforced plaster, 2018

Lee Quiñones, Trepidation, Metal cans, wood, 2018

Bullet Space is open Saturday and Sunday from 1 – 6pm or by appointment — 347.277.9841. Check here for a full list of the artists on exhibit. Most of the artists, explains co-curator Alexandra Rojas, have strong roots on the Lower East Side, as Bullet Space continues to keep its culture alive amidst the rapid changes in the neighborhood. Lee Quiñones, in fact, lived in the building where Bullet Space is housed.

Photos of artworks 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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basquiat

Among the diverse works on display in Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s at the Whitney Museum are several by artists whose contributions to the graffiti and street art movement have been monumental. Pictured above is LNAPRK by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Here are several more:

Keith Haring, Untitled, Fiber-tipped pen on synthetic leather

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 Martin Wong, Closed, Acrylic on canvas; the artist’s extensive graffiti collection was the subject of City as Canvas at the Museum of the City of  New York in 2014

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Kenny Scharf, When the Worlds Collide, Oil and spray paint on canvas against wallpaper adapted from Keith Haring mural at the Pop Shop

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Kenny Scharf, close-up 

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Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s continues through May 14 at the Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort Street in the Meat Packing District. Check here for hours. Admission is Pay-What-You-Wish on Friday’s, 7-10 pm.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

Note: Hailed in a range of media from Wide Walls 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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