public art

In Bristol, Part II with: Andrew Burns Colwill, Irony, Rocket01, JXC, Xenz with Will Barras and Cheo

November 25, 2017

Pictured above is a huge mural, Arctic Scream, painted by Bristol-based artist Andrew Burns Colwill. What follows are several more images captured on my recent trip to Bristol, the home of the annual Upfest, Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival.

London-based Irony

Sheffield-based Rocket01

London-based JXC

London-based Xenz and Will Barras, large segment of huge mural

Bristol-based Cheo

Photos 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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SaveArtSpace Transforms Outdoor Advertising Spaces into Public Art Sites and Presents Indoor Exhibitions of Featured Artists

November 22, 2017

Launched in 2015 by SVA graduates Justin Aversano and Travis Rix, the non-profit SaveArtSpace has already transformed 66 advertising spaces into sites for public art in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Louisville and now Golden, Colorado.

Located at 650 West 46th Street in Hells Kitchen, the billboard featured above was designed by Brooklyn-based illustrator Feifei Ruan. And, along with original artworks by local artist Sadie Starnes and NYC-based Israeli visual artist Meytar Moran , it can, also, be seen in Street Smart, an exhibition currently on view at the SVA Chelsea Gallery — with a special reception next Thursday, November 30th, 6-8pm.

Beginning December 4th SaveArtSpace will be bringing more public art to New York City, showcasing artists on advertising spaces throughout the area. Works by the selected artists will also be exhibited at The Living Gallery Outpost, with an opening reception on December 13, 2017. What follows is a sampling of what you can expect to see there:

Brandon Sines — known to us street art aficionados as Frank Ape, Social Media Isn’t Always Social

Brooklyn native Angela Alba, Pink Pool

Brooklyn-based Felipe Posada, ‘Can’t Wear My Mask…

And if you are interested in submitting your art for future Save Art Space projects, check this link out.

All images courtesy SaveArtSpace

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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In Bristol with: My Dog Sighs, Snub 23, Jody Artist, Kobra, The Nomad Clan, Guy Denning, Yatika Fields, 3Dom22, Caro Pepe and Age Age

November 20, 2017

The streets of Bristol — the home of the annual Upfest, Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival — brim with energy and intrigue. Pictured above is a huge segment from a collaborative mural by UK-based My Dog Sighs and Snub23. What follows are several more I captured on my recent visit to Bristol, UK.

Bristol-based Jody Artist

Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra

UK-based The Nomad Clan, close-up

Bristol native Guy Denning in collaboration with Oklahoma native Yatika Fields

Bristol-based 3Dom22

Buenos Aires-based Caro Pepe in collaboration with German artist Age Age

Photos 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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On the Streets of London with: Shok 1, Jim Vision, Banksy, Trafik Graphics & the Toasters

November 17, 2017

On my recent trip to London, I came upon some outstanding murals by some of my favorite artists — including many who have shared their talents with us here in NYC. Pictured above is by the London-based pioneer of aerosol X-ray art Shok 1. What follows are a few more walls that particularly intrigued me:

Also by Shok 1

London-based Jim Vision, close-up from huge mural

Banksy’s “collaboration” with Basquiat — just outside the Barbican Centre, the site of Basquiat‘s solo exhibit, “Boom for Real”

Trafik Graphics

The classic London-based stencil artists, the Toasters, in Walthamstow

Photos 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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Faces in London Open Spaces: Mr Cenz, Carleen de Sozer, Dreph, C215 & Paul Don Smith

November 10, 2017

While in London this past week, I came upon several alluring faces of females on and off Brick Lane. Pictured above is by London-based Mr. Cenz. Here are several more:

London-based Carleen de Sozer, who defines her art as Afrofuturism

London-based Ghanaian artist Neequaye Dreph Dsane known as Dreph

The masterful French artist C215

UK-based Paul Don Smith

Photo credits: 1-4 Lois Stavsky; 5 Sara C Mozeson

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Chor Boogie Paints Expressive New Mural, LOVE CHILD, in Salem, MA

October 17, 2017

Inspired by the MISSOKO BWITI tradition from the MASSANGO and PUNU tribe he joined when in Africa, the wonderfully imaginative West Coast-based Chor Boogie has recently completed a massive mural in Salem, MA. Commissioned by the Punto Urban Art Museum, the intriguing artwork, entitled LOVE CHILD, celebrates the gift of life. The artist describes it as “An Offering of Visual Medicine for the SOUL,” as the LOVE CHILD’s arms are open and ready to embrace you.

Closer up

Chor Boogie with his mural

And in progress

Images courtesy of the artist

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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In Montreal with Seth Globepainter, Dede Bandaid, Nitzan Mintz, SBuONe, Kevin Ledo & 1010

October 11, 2017

Montreal boasts a wide array of intriguing murals by both local and international artists. The mural pictured above was painted by Julien Malland aka Seth Globepainter for an ongoing mural project organized by MU, whose mission is to transform Montreal into an “open air gallery.” What follows are several more murals we came upon on our recent visit to Montreal:

Tel Aviv-based Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz — who are currently here in NYC

Montreal-based French artist SBuONe for Montreal’s 2017 Mural Festival

Montreal-based Kevin Ledo does Leonard Cohen for Montreal’s 2017 Mural Festival, close-up

Hamburg-based 1010 forMontreal’s 2017 Mural Festival

Photo credit: 1, 2 & 5 Tara Murray; 3 & 4 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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An Invite to Create a Huge Mural in the LES’s Essex Crossing Project

October 9, 2017

Home to such projects as 100 Gates and Market Surplus, the streets and venues of Manhattan’s Lower East Side have introduced us to new talents, while showcasing some of NYC’s most prominent graffiti artists and muralists. Artists are now invited to submit ideas for an entire mural — or a segment of it — to be painted on the western façade of Essex Crossing‘s site at 145 Clinton Street that will be home to 107 market-rate apartments and 104 below-market-rate units. Check the Request for Proposals (RFP) for all the details and requirements. You have until December 15th to submit it.

The image featured above was painted by Gera Luz. Here are several more that have surfaced on the Lower East Side within the past year:

Hanksy

Flood

Buff Monster for Market Surplus

Claw Money

Lexi Bella

Photo credit: QuallsBenson

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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In Mexico City with: Curiot, Arty & Chikle, Escif, D*Face, Edgar Saner, Poni and El Mac

October 5, 2017

The following guest post is by Houda Lazrak

While in Mexico City shortly before the devastating earthquake, Roberto Shimizu, Creative Director of The Antique Toy Museum of Mexico (MUJAM) and co-organizer of Mexico City’s street art festival All City Canvas, introduced me to over a dozen murals — mainly in the neighborhoods of Roma Norte, Doctores and downtown. Featured above is by Mexico City – based Curiot who — upon returning to Mexico City after living in the US — painted a center for youth who struggle with difficulties within the traditional school system. What follows is a sampling of several more murals, organized by Roberto Shimizu, that I saw:

Arty & Chikle, the first gay street art couple to come out in Mexico City

Valencia-based Escif — at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, where the Tlatelolco massacre occurred on October 2, 1968. Students met in this plaza for a peaceful demonstration and reportedly hundreds of them were shot and killed when the military opened fired on them. The image depicts former Interior Secretary Luis Echeverría requesting President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz to order the shooting. Decades later, Echeverría was put on trial for the massacre.

UK-based D*Face

Mexico City-based Edgar Flores aka Saner

Mexico City-based Hilda Palafox aka Poni

LA-based El Mac on his mural: The image I painted is based on photos I took of a social activist and poet named María Guardado, who was tortured and left for dead in 1980 by government forces during the civil war in El Salvador. She was one of thousands of civilian victims of that war, during which the US-backed Salvadoran government employed death squads to kill and terrorize everyone from poor farmers to nuns to students. Maria survived and fled the country for Los Angeles, where today she is still a passionate fighter for social justice.

All photos by Houda Lazrak

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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French Graffiti Artist and Graphic Designer Jaek el Diablo on: His Influences, His Style, New York Graffiti and the Future of It All

October 3, 2017

A veteran French graffiti writer, designer and illustrator, Jaek el Diablo shared his talents with us in Jersey City earlier this year, painting several walls in coordination with Green Villain, along with independent commissions. At the time, street and travel photographer Karin du Maire had the opportunity to interview him:

When did you begin doing graffiti?

It’s been about 25 years now since I first started doing graffiti. I began in the early 90’s.

What inspired you at the time?

I was into the skateboard culture back then, and I met many other skaters who were tagging the streets. They exposed me to graffiti, street art, comics and pop culture, in general.

What, would you say, has had the largest impact upon your particular style — both as a graffiti artist and a designer?

Comics! I was always drawing, and the comics I was reading inspired my characters. I think that was the beginning of my story!

How would you define your style? What differentiates it from others?

If I had to define my style, I would describe it as cartoon. I was influenced early on by the Kermits, Disney, Hanna–Barbera… In my work, I try not to reproduce the same thing that I see. I put my own stamp on it! It’s kind of like sampling in hip-hop – a remix of sorts! I see my work as a tribute to some of my favorite characters. It’s always a tribute.

Can you tell us a bit about the difference between French graffiti and the graffiti you’ve seen here while painting in NYC or Jersey City?

I think that back in Europe, we’ve had other influences — such as Mode 2 and the cartoon styles that inspired him. And we have the German graffiti writers whose letters are always evolving. Here in NYC, the writers are very academic; they are Old School academic. Not all — there is Rime MSK and a few guys who are next level. But most NY writers maintain the classic graffiti style. To me, the two books, Spraycan Art and Subway Art, are the Bible, the base. I love being here and discovering the origin of my religion!

What about the future of graffiti? Where do you see it going?

I see more and more big murals, especially tribute murals, and more illustrators doing street art. I see lots and lots of styles, but there will always be a return to the roots of it all – which is graffiti. I see it going in a variety of directions. But, I think, in the future there is no museum. It is only in the streets!

Many walls in NYC are now curated. How do you feel about this trend?

On a positive note, the walls are better and better, because the artists are carefully selected. But it’s also a negative thing. Graffiti was meant to be open to all. If you had a can, the wall was free! But, yes, these curated walls help break down the negative stereotypes of graffiti. And that is good for my art! So maybe that is the future!

Photos by Karin du Maire; interview conducted by Karin du Maire and edited 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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