mural art

The legendary artist Chris “DAZE” Ellis is currently at work on newly commissioned artworks at 550 Madison Avenue on the corner of 55th Street. The following interview with him was conducted by Street Art NYC contributor Ana Candelaria.

How did this wonderful opportunity come your way? And why this location?

This project came about through my ongoing relationship with the Museum of the City of New York. I was informed that there might be an opportunity to activate this huge space in Midtown Manhattan. And so, I didn’t choose the location; the location chose me.

What was your vision for this project? And how did it evolve?

We began with an offsite meeting, where we saw firsthand what the space would look like. We tossed
around ideas, and I thought that whatever composition I come up with should be bright
and colorful — not dark and somber. It should, somehow, really lighten up the space. I started
thinking about color first and then composition.

Then I started thinking about this building which is really iconic. The chief architect is Philip Johnson, and I thought,”Okay, my work is very New York-based. I work in New York everyday, and I draw inspiration from my daily commute.”

I wanted to come up with something that is easily recognizable as very New York, but — at the same time — something related to the natural world, as the site’s atrium is so beautiful.

Were there any particular challenges that you faced in seeing your vision through?

Not really. Once I came up with an idea for this particular space, there weren’t any challenges.

Your artwork at this site is still in progress. How has the response been so far?

The response so far has been 100 percent positive. And, most importantly, we’ve gotten great respect
from people who are just walking by in the street. Those people come from all walks of life. There are lots of tourists in this area, as well as people who pass by on their way to work. This area has a great mix of people.

Interview conducted by Ana Candelaria

Photo credits: 1 Brad Farwell, 2-4 Ana Candelaria

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Under the curatorial direction of Jonathan NevilleFirst 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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On my recent visit to Newark, arts educator and photographer Rachel Fawn Alban introduced me to The Golden Life, a joyous, brilliantly crafted mural project adjacent to the city’s Broad Street Station. Eager to find out more about this transformative venture, I  posed a few questions to Rachel, who created this richly radiant mural project in collaboration with Newark-based artist Armisey Smith.

This mural project is such a rich addition to Newark’s visual landscape. Whose concept was it?

The Golden Life is a collaboration between Armisey Smith and me. Armisey is a talented artist and close friend who believed in me long before I believed in myself. She encouraged me to partner with her, and together we set out to create something special and meaningful for Newark.

We chose to honor real community members—not famous or historical figures—which made the project deeply personal. The mural features large-scale portraits of 14 women and girls who live or work near the intersection, celebrating the diversity and creativity of Newark women and girls. The portraits are connected by vibrant lines and color, symbolizing community, connection, and sisterhood.

Can you tell us something about its process?

Creating this mural was both challenging and rewarding. In April 2023, Armisey and I hosted a free art workshop at the Newark Public Library for women and girls of all ages. We presented the project, took portraits, and led participants through creative exercises including a selfie station, collage-making, and haiku writing—all centered around the theme of The Golden Life.

One of my favorite aspects of the project is the audio component. While we couldn’t feature everyone’s portrait on the wall, we were able to present all of their poems—so even more voices were included. The recordings are accessible via the Bloomberg Connects app, along with a beautiful introduction by Newark artist Kween Moore. It’s a way for people to experience The Golden Life beyond the visual—listening while walking around the site adds another layer of engagement and accessibility.

What were some of the particular challenges involved in seeing this project through?

There were quite a few! It took about six months of planning before the workshop, then about a year from the time of the workshop to the ribbon cutting. Scheduling was a challenge since we are all educators and artists juggling multiple projects. And, since the project spanned multiple seasons, weather impacted our fabrication and installation timeline.

This was a complicated project with many stakeholders and technical processes. In fact, just before we were set to begin, two of our original walls became unavailable. This required a complete redesign and budget revision, which pushed us back several months. Thankfully, our amazing project manager, Rebecca Jampol, and our partners helped us stay on track. In the end, it all came together beautifully.

How has the community responded to it?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People have shared how they love seeing it every day and how meaningful it is to see their stories reflected in public art. In a diverse, majority-Black city like Newark, it’s especially powerful to create space for women and girls of color—who are often underrepresented in public art and media — to be honored and celebrated. The project also beautified a neglected and dilapidated intersection at Broad Street Station—used by hundreds of residents and commuters every day—transforming it into a welcoming and inspiring space. It’s a powerful reminder of how art can profoundly alter one’s environment and strengthen community.

What’s ahead for you?

I’m excited to continue creating art that celebrates diversity and brings people together. As a Jewish woman in Newark, I’ve been reflecting on the Black-Jewish alliance in America—a historic and ongoing partnership rooted in shared struggles and a commitment to justice. I’m eager to work on future projects that explore and honor these intersections, amplifying stories that haven’t always been told.

I’m also thrilled to keep collaborating with Armisey. Working together on this mural was incredibly rewarding, and we’re already brainstorming future projects. I’m confident that whatever we do next will be just as meaningful.

And before we wrap up, I want to thank the key supporters who made this project possible: Project for Empty Space for organizing and managing the initiative; the City of Newark’s Department of Arts and Culture; and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their incredible support. I’m also deeply grateful to our team of local artists who helped facilitate the workshop, fabricate, and install the mural—and of course, to all the participants who brought their creativity, stories, and spirit to the work. Golden Life for Life!

Interview and photos 1-5 by Lois Stavsky

Featuring Newark community members:

  1. Reine Campbell and Quincy Campbell
  2. Antoinette Ellis Williams, Rachel Fawn Alban & Tamia Thomas
  3. Denise Toney
  4. Klymora Smith
  5. Adele Rae Hayes Harris

Photo 6  © Charles David, featuring Armisey Smith, Rachel Fawn Alban and members of the Newark community

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The striking image featured above was fashioned by the noted duo Faile — multimedia artists Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller. It has been part of Long Island City’s visual landscape since fall, 2022. Several more images of girls currently gracing NYC walls follow:

Bronx-born and bred Andre Trenier does the esteemed late African American writer Zora Neale Hurston 

The legendary Lady Pink with community artists in Astoria, Queens, close-up from huge mural

California-based Mexican artist Cova at the Bushwick Collective

The wonderfully talented BK Foxx, in Bushwick

Pittsburgh-based Ashley Hodder does artist Wavy Wednesday at the Bushwick Collective

Multidisciplinary Spanish artist Tirso Paz aka Bublegum at the Bushwick Collective

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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Located at 701 Washington Avenue and Clark Place in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Washington Walls continues to host a wondrously diverse array of murals. We recently visited its current iteration, strikingly curated by community resident and leader Jeff Beler. The ingeniously fashioned mural/installation featured above is the work of Brooklyn-based Humble, who had earlier been immersed in the Richmond, Virgina art scene. What follows are several more images of murals that we captured last week:

Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Vince Ballentine

The passionate painter Natural Eyes and multidisciplinary artist Lisart

Brooklyn-based, Rio de Janeiro-born Barbtropolis

Painter and photographer Luci

Dumbo-based Craig Anthony Miller and veteran writer BC NBA

Classic graffiti artist Rebs

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

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A new Tats Cru mural at their usual spot on East 2nd Street off Avenue A is always a cause for celebration. And when the legendary British artist Nick Walker joins the talented native Bronx artists, it’s even more festive! The image pictured above features Bio‘s signature heart. Additional images from the newly painted mural follow:

Nicer

Bio and Nicer with neighborhood passersby

Tats Cru collaboration

And UK native Nick Walker

Photo credits: 1 – 3 Lois Stavsky; 4 & 5 Tara Murray

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The face featured above — a segment of a larger mural — was painted by New Jersey-based veteran writer Raul Rubio aka Sue Works in collaboration with style master Aesop One this past summer at Boone Avenue Walls in the Bronx. Several more images of faces recently captured on NYC public spaces follow:

Queens-native Zimer does Alicia Keys outside the Ridge Hotel on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

NYC-based contemporary artist Cody James at BedStuy Walls Mural Festival in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Queens-based Mexican writer, muralist and tattooist El Onel at Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens

Japan-born, NYC-based self-taught graphic artist Kosuke James at Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens

Pittsburgh-based artist Ashley Hodder does artist Wavy Wednesday at Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens

Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Huetek. in Ridgewood, Queens

Photo credits: 1 Tara Murray 2-7 Lois Stavsky

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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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Secret Walls “The Art of Competition” made its way back to NYC on Saturday evening, October 26. Jason Naylor, Lamour Supreme, Ross Pino and Jappy Agoncillo were divided into two teams and electrified the wildly enthusiastic audience with their live painting. Special guest judges, along with a decibel meter measuring audience reaction, determined the winner of each battle. By the evening’s end Jappy Agoncillo and Lamour Supreme had beat out Jason Naylor and Ross Pino. Street Art NYC contributor Ana Candelaria was there to capture the action:

Jappy Agonocillo and Lamour Supreme at work

Walls in progress as Jason Naylor and Ross Pino take a brief break

Jason Naylor and Ross Pino

Jason Naylor at work

The winning team, Jappy Agoncillo and Lamour Supreme on the left side of their completed wall

The hugely successful event was held at No Ones Home venue, co-founded by ex US soccer player Kyle Martino. Hosted by Che Anderson with live sounds from  local DJ Gianni Lee, the event was provided with support from its tour partners: Monster Energy Ultra, POSCA Paint Markers, Rabble Wine and more.

Photos by Ana Candelaria

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This past May, a wonderfully diverse group of artists brought their skills to South Street Seaport, marking the third year that the You Are Not Alone community-based art project curated a huge 160 ft long wall in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. These murals’ message of hope is particularly timely this month, September — National Suicide Prevention Month. Featured above is the work of the Washington Heights-based graphic designer and illustrator Yuma York. Several more images from this year’s You Are Not Alone Murals Project 2024 at the Seaport follow:

Detroit-based designer and hand lettering artist Lauren Hom

Local street artist and animator Sara Lynne Leo

 NYC-based multi-disciplinary artist, designer and typographer Juan Carlos Pagan

Sydney, Australia-born, NYC-based multidisciplinary artist Vexta

New Jersey-based hand-lettering artist and muralist Olga Muzician 

 Brooklyn-based muralist, teaching artist and illustrator Peach Tao

British multi-disciplinary artist David Puck

Launched in 2019,You Are Not Alone Murals was founded by multimedia artist and art director Annica Lydenberg aka Dirty Bandits and Samantha Schutz, mental health advocate and the author of the highly acclaimed memoir I Don’t Want to Be Crazy.

And do remember, “You are not alone!” If you or someone you care about is in need of support or information, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., ET. 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).

Note: Find out here about You Are Not Alone Murals’ first annual t-shirt collaboration and fundraiser!

Photos of artworks, Lois Stavsky

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