NYC Street Art

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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At the Bushwick Collective, Part II: Patrick Kane McGergor, Chris Haven, Nate Dee, Candy Kuo, Wade Indeed, Enzo, Robert Vargas & Corey Pane

June 17, 2024

The 13th Annual  Bushwick Collective Block Party brought a wonderfully diverse array of local, national and global artists to Brooklyn’s iconic outdoor gallery. The huge, beguiling dog featured above was painted by Denver-based Patrick Kane McGergor against a deftly-executed cityscape crafted by multidisciplinary artist Chris Haven.

In this Part II of At the Bushwick Collective are several more images of artworks that have surfaced this month at the Bushwick Collective, curated by its founder, Joe Ficalora.

Miami-based Nate Dee, “Brooklyn Trogon”

Austin, Texas-based Taiwanese-American artist Candy Kuo at work on mural in collaboration with Wade Indeed

Completed mural by Austin, Texas-based artists Candy Kuo and Wade Indeed

French artist Enzo Yurrebaso, segment of captivating mural

Los Angeles-based Robert Vargas, segment of huge powerful mural at the intersection of Wycoff and Troutman

Connecticut-based Corey Pane, Portrait of wife, Kailah King, and baby daughter

Photos of artworks: 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 the 2023 BedStuy Walls Mural Festival with: Mz. Icar, Vince Ballentine, Jeff Henriquez, Caesar Perez, Phetus88, Question Marks, Alana Tsui, Matt Siren, Funqest, Andre Trenier & More

October 5, 2023

Founded and curated by Miki Mu and Frankie Velez, the BedStuy Walls Mural Festival has once again transformed Lexington Avenue between Stuyvesant and Lewis Streets into a delectable visual feast, while actively engaging the local community and beyond.

The sumptuous image featured above was painted collaboratively by members of Mz. Icar, a collective of primarily Black female interdisciplinary artists “creatively taking up space.”  Several more images captured this past Sunday follow:

Brooklyn-based Vince Ballentine paints the Nigerian-American singer and composer Mary Akpa

Brooklyn-based Jeff Henriquez captured at work

Chicago-based Caesar Perez

Long Island-based master of monsters Phetus88

Brooklyn-based Question Marks at work with Alana Tsui above Matt Siren’s iconic character

Manhattan-based Funqest

Bronx-born and bred Andre Trenier at work

As it “takes a village” to launch such a remarkable event, among the many who helped make it possible are: NYC Thrive Collective, The Philos Project, Philos Latino, Jesse Rojo, Good Times Deli, Pastor Robert Waterman and Atiba Edwards.

Keep posted to the Street Art NYC Instagram and Threads for more images from this year’s edition of the BedStuy Walls Mural Festival. And you can help sustain this model of community engagement by contributing to the fundraiser, organized by Miki Mu.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 8, Lois Stavsky; 3 & 6 Ana Candelaria

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Back to Freeman Alley With: Lasak, Mattaya Fitts, Abe Bx, Rat Rockster & Ikas, Luch, Komodo, Qazar and More

July 25, 2023

I returned to Freeman Alley this past Sunday to discover a wonderfully diverse range of artworks in varied media, along with artists from near and far at work. Pictured above is the lovely Ecuadorian nomadic artist Lasak. Several more findings follow:

 Boston native Mattaya Fitts

Bronx native Abe Bx

Italian artists Rat Rockster and Ikas leaving their mark in the alley as they pass through NYC

Colombian artist Luch pays homage to his hometown Valle de Cocora

The spirit of Indonesia from Komodo

An surprise visit from the prolific mark-maker Qzar

And one of several sticker combos

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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NYC Sticker Art — Part VI: City Kitty, Alex Itin, Katsu, Inner Demons with Chris RWK, RAE BK, Reader, Suckybat and South LNE

July 6, 2023

With their intriguing images, graffiti tags and motley messages, street art stickers are increasingly claiming space in just about every NYC neighborhood. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020, there seems to be, in fact, a proliferation of them – even in those localities with, otherwise, scant graffiti or street art. Featured above is City Kitty’s beloved adventurous cat, seen a while back on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Several more stickers captured in varied NYC locations follow:

Brooklyn-based multimedia artist Alex Itin, as seen awhile back on the Lower East Side

The famed Japanese-American artist Katsu, as seen this past weekend in Soho

Bronx-born Inner Demons in collaboration with Staten Island-based Chris RWK, as seen last week on the Lower East Side

The prolific Brooklyn-based multimedia artist RAE BK — his signature face on translucent sticker paper — as seen this past weekend in Soho

The itinerant graffiti writer/bomber Reader with his now-iconic message, as seen last week in Gowanus, Brooklyn

NYC-based graffiti writer/bomber Suckybat, as seen a while back in Chelsea

LNE crew graffiti writer/bomber South,  as seen in Inwood, Manhattan

Note: This post is part of an ongoing series on NYC sticker art — that had been “dormant” for the past several years, and is now being revived!

Photos by 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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TV Nostalgia Comes to Underhill Walls: Paolo Tolentino, Subway Doodle, Sage Gallon, Jessie Novik, Carnivorous Flora, DozenFingers Graphics, Miki Mu, Android Oi with Melissa Schainker & More

August 20, 2022

Currently on view at Underhill Walls in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn is a delightfully nostalgic trip down TV’s memory lane.  In the murals featured above, accolades are given to The Sopranos by Paolo Tolentino, while Subway Doodle honors Battlestar Galactica. Several more images from Underhill Walls‘ current iteration follow:

Multi-media artist Sage Gallon pays homage to “The Sonny and Cher Show” for its “talent and variety”

Painter and muralist Jessie Novik celebrates “I Love Lucy”

Artist and arts educator Carnivorous Flora recreates “The Partridge Family” as “little people with a bus rolling out the red carpet to Ukrainian refugees and welcoming them to NYC!”

Tattoo artist and designer DozenFingers Graphics celebrates the animated television series “Sonic the Hedgehog”

 Muralist and illustrator Miki Mu adds the final touches to her playful ode to “Sesame Street”

Visual artist and poet Android Oi — in collaboration with painter and illustrator Melissa Schainker — celebrates “Mork & Mindy,” (with project coordinator Jeff Beler standing to his right).

Founded and curated by Jeff Beler, Underhill Walls is a non-profit public art installation located at the corner of St. Johns Place and Underhill Avenue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn,

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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Street Art for Mankind to Unveil New Midtown NYC Road Safety Mural Created with Dragon 76

July 13, 2022

Working in partnership with UNITAR to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030, Street Art for Mankind has brought a huge, hugely impressive new mural to Midtown Manhattan. Created by the wonderfully talented Dragon 76, it spans 5,200 square feet at the crossing of Tunnel Exit Street and 39th Street. Several more images of the monumental mural follow:

Earlier on

Close-up with advice we need to heed–

Another detail

The completed mural

And another view with the artist (center) and varied supporters

The official unveiling and inauguration will take place tomorrow,  Thursday July 14th, at 11:30 AM, in front of the mural at 216 East 39th Street.

All images courtesy Street Art for Mankind

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Jeff Beler on Washington Walls with: Uncutt Art, Calicho, Paulie Nassar, Jaima, Outer Source, Majo San and Carnivorous Flora

June 14, 2022

While checking out several new murals at Underhill Walls in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn last week, I was delighted to discover a new open air gallery just a few blocks away.  Located at Washington Avenue and Clark Place and, also, curated by community resident and leader Jeff Beler, it hosts a captivating array of murals. A brief interview with Jeff Beler — its founder — follows:

What a wonderful addition go the neighborhood! What motivated you to launch this new project, Washington Walls?

I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 17 years and this spot had always been an eyesore.  It had originally been a garage, but it had been empty for years — with damaged panels in need of replacement.

How did you made this transformation happen — in terms of permissions?

I spoke to the contractor who contacted the owner of the property. The panels were replaced, and I was given the “Go ahead!”

When did it officially launch? And how did it go?

In February — right after Valentines Day. The entire community pitched in. Kids got involved. Everything went beautifully, and we all had fun!

These walls feature such a wide range of talents, styles and themes. I am familiar with many of the artists from Underhill Walls and elsewhere, yet several are new to me. How were you able to engage so many artists? And how did they find out about this project?

I put up a post on Instagram that I was seeking artists to paint, and the response was great.

What’s ahead?

A second edition of Washington Walls in September. We are also planning to launch shirts, tote bags, prints and stickers, along with a  book documenting the past seven years of Underhill Walls. And currently we are completing the newest set of murals at Underhill Walls featuring TV Nostalgia.

Murals:

  1. Uncutt Art
  2. Calicho Arevalo — with Jeff Beler on the left
  3. Paulie Nassar
  4. Jaima
  5. Outer Source
  6. Majo San
  7. Carnivorous Flora

Photos: Lois Stavsky

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky

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