Queens

Back with our documentation of ILLicit Creatives claiming space on the streets of NYC, this post focuses on the fourth in our series of Queens markings. Pictured above is Ecal — followed by several more images of unsanctioned graffiti captured in Queens public spaces.

The ubiquitous Quasar aka Qzar

Lucy and the prolific MQ

Zoot, KYS

Zerz, OTL and Panic, SB

York and Eve, GI

Angr, LNE

Note: Pushing It Forward, a limited edition zine featuring artworks fashioned by “illicit creatives,” — edited by Lois Stavsky and designed by Lord K2 — is now available at So Books in Tokyo, Japan.

Photos: Lois Stavsky

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Born and raised in Queens, New York and based now in, Bari Italy, Cear One has left his mark not only in his native city, but in Central America and now in his current hometown in Southern Italy. I recently had the opportunity to interview him:

When did you first “get up?”

I started practicing tags when I was about 13 or 14. But I didn’t actually go outside with spray paint until I was 17. That’s when I did my first throw-ups and fill ins on Queens’ rooftops.

Where were you living at the time?

I was living in Flushing, but I also went around Astoria, Jackson Heights and other parts of Queens.

What inspired you to?

My uncle, the Original KR1, was a writer. He was a big influence. Graffiti magazines and videos also inspired me.

Were there any other artists out there who motivated you to “get up” when you first started?

There were many! Among them are: Zephyr, SP1, Cope2, Ces, Per, Sabe KST, Keep, Nato, Bruz and West Cost writers Saber and Revok.

And why did you continue to “get up?”

I loved the feeling of it. It’s thrilling. It’s kind of a rush – like a natural high. And when I get up, I feel like I’m getting a good workout!

Have you any favorite surfaces or spots?

With markers, I love a smooth surface. And with paint, I like corner spots — like hidden or abandoned areas.  I love concrete, metal, doors, plastic, trucks, gates, old buildings, brick, cinderblock… Trucks are especially great because they move.

How do you choose your spots?

I go for the kinds of spots that are likely to last. Those are ideal.

What’s your earliest graffiti-related memory?

The pieces my uncle made for me as birthday presents.  He’d write my name, and he’d add characters and backgrounds – all in graffiti style.

What is the riskiest thing you’ve ever done?

I guess it would be highway spots. While I’m painting, people are beeping , shouting or cheering me on. It’s very distracting!

What is the average amount of time you spend on a piece?

Doing an illegal piece could take up to 20 minutes or a half hour – depending on its size and details.

How do you feel when someone goes over you? And what do you do about it?

I don’t like it. I go back over them!

Have you had any memorable encounters while you were getting up?

Once when we were walking along the Long Island Railroad tracks in Queens, we didn’t hear the train coming or see the lights blaring — until it was seconds away. We literally dodged this train by maybe a minute, as it quickly zoomed by us.

Have you ever used any implements to defend yourself? If so, what were they? And what were the circumstances?

We once threw a sledge hammer at a conductor to back him off from coming out of the train.

Was there a singular moment when you realized that graffiti is a particular passion of yours?

I can’t say it was a single moment. It was watching graffiti videos and movies, reading Subway Art, going down to Canal Street for ink and supplies, checking out tags, doing them inside trains, going back home and practicing. I was kind of feeling that whole movement back then in 2000. it was an exciting time for me.

If you were offered the opportunity to do a legal mural for pay, would you take it?

Yes. I would, and I have in the past. I don’t frown upon legal pieces.

From your perspective, how welcoming has the graffiti scene been to diverse groups of people?  

It’s always been a diverse crowd. Graffiti brings together people from all nationalities and backgrounds.

Would you rather paint on your own or with other writers?

I love painting alone. I might do a few pieces with another writer and then move on.

You’ve painted in here in NYC and now you’re living and getting up in Bari, Italy. Where else have you painted?

I’ve also painted in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

What was it like to paint in those countries?

While in Costa Rica, I got interested in abandoned places – so that I could take my time without cops or other people bothering me. In Nicaragua, I painted in central places where everyone was partying and no one was paying attention, so I could sneak in and out of a space, without getting noticed.

And what’s it like in Bari, where you live now?

I like Bari because it’s metropolitan, and my art gets lots of views – many more than it could get in Costa Rica or Nicaragua.

What is your favorite paint? Caps? Colors?

Favorite paints are Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch, Montana, Loop. As far as caps, Astro fat caps are amazing.  Pink Dot cap , Orange Dot Cap, New York Fatcap. As for colors…I love shades of greens, blues, purples, pinks, oranges and reds. I also like black, white and silver.

What do you see as the future of graffiti, particularly illicit graffiti?

It will continue to grow. There are many new writers out there and they seem very dedicated.

What about your future? Where are you headed?

The passion to go bombing will always be with me. I’m always looking to improve my skills, and I want to be part of this movement’s history.

Interview edited for brevity and clarity by Lois Stavsky; all photos courtesy of the artist

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After a hiatus of several weeks, we are back with our documentation of ILLicit creatives claiming space on the streets of NYC. Pictured above is MFK, the Metal Fingers Krew; what follows are several more graffiti bombs and throwies captured as we revisited Queens.

Angr

Boni and Sykoe

Unidentified

Mono

Someone

Sie and Mer

Post by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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Queens is major stomping ground. It has been for generations – from the Long Island Railroad in Jamiaca. to Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. At the turn of the century, Queen’s 7-line train, rooftops, tunnels, and streets were notorious for their graffiti. From 74th street and Roosevelt Avenue all the way up to Flushing Main Street, graffiti was rampant. But then with elected officials like Mayor Rudy Giuliani and District Attorney Peter Vallone, it became scarce. These politicians, alongside prosecutors and judges, came down heavily on graffiti writers. Years went by with very little action on the 7 line. Then came the pandemic.

While most New Yorkers secluded themselves indoors during the early months of the pandemic, an impassioned minority ventured outdoors to make their mark on the city’s newly abandoned streets, storefronts and walls.  An entire new generation of ILLicit creatives with an irrepressible urge to “get up” was born. In an ongoing new series, Street Art NYC will highlight them, while also paying homage to veteran writers who are “pushing it forward.” This first in our series — spanning all five boroughs — focuses on the markings in Queens. The image above features Real. Several more photos recently captured in Queens follow:

Anso

Boni and Kitty

Pure

Angr and Tav

Faes and Sic

MTNW

Post and photos by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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When LISA Project NYC co-founder Reynaldo Rosa aka The Drif was 10 years old and living in the foster care system with a critical illness, he wished he could visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a 501 nonprofit organization that that helps fulfill the wishes of children with serious illnesses, Rey had his wish come true – an adventure that sparked his imagination, allowing him “to see color again.”

Inspired by this experience, Rey has been bringing color to our streets for over a decade, and his brain-child, the Make-A-Wish Mural Project, has launched a variety of spirited murals in a range of NYC spaces from the Brookdale Hospital in East Brooklyn to the streets of Nolita in Manhattan.

Last month, under The Drif’s curatorial direction, the exterior of the huge Macy’s Department Store, housed in Queens Center, was magically transformed as part of Macy’s annual Believe campaign. The image featured above was a collaboration among: the Drif, Zero Productivity, Chris RWK and Veng RWK. Several select close-ups from the huge mural project follow:

Zero Productivity and Chris RWK

Indie 184 and Zero Productivity

Veng RWK

Indie 184, Chris RWK & Veng RWK

And a reminder from Chris RWK to send your letter to Santa — as for every letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. You have until Friday to write your letter here or drop it off at Macy’s.

Note: Earlier this month six murals were also unveiled outside the Macy’s in downtown Brooklyn.

Photo credits: 1 Shalom Stavsky, 2-6 Lois Stavsky

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For over a decade Welling Court and its surrounding blocks in Astoria, Queens have been a mecca of street art and graffiti, engaging a widely diverse group of artists, the local community, as well as the the general public.  On our recent visit to Astoria, we were delighted to discover several new murals — curated by Alison C. Wallis —  that have surfaced in these trying times on the walls of one of our favorite street art destinations. The image featured above was fashioned by the legendary Chris “Daze” Ellis. Several more murals — painted over the past few weeks — follow:

Bronx-bred El Souls

Lady Pink‘s tribute to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more whose lives should have never been cut short 

Greg Lamarche aka SP ONE, “Lift Every Voice”

Fumero, “The Glariator” with his name in flames

Bronx-based BG 183, Tats Cru

Queen Andrea, Love Always Wins

John “Crash” Matos and Joe Iurato with a message of LOVE

Also among the new works is a mural fashioned by the legendary John Fekner, to be captured when the sun cooperates!

Photo credits: 1, 6 & 7 Sara Ching Mozeson; 2 – 5 & 8 Lois Stavsky

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Self-described as a “NYC-based visually impaired Street-Pop artist with a vintage flair,” the lovely OG Millie primarily fashions infectious portraits of iconic international figures. Ranging from the Buddha to Biggie, they are customarily painted with brilliant hues onto vintage decorative mirrors, exuding a distinctly enchanting aura.

A wonderfully diverse sampling of the artist’s portraits were exhibited this past Wednesday at a reception held at Long Island City’s magical Paper Factory Hotel, celebrating the Queens launch of LG USA Mobile‘s impressive, new five-camera LGV40 ThinQ. Pictured above is OG Millie‘s rendition of the Buddha. Several more images follow:

The famed Brooklyn-based rapper Biggie Smalls

The legendary American rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix

The German-born brilliant physicist Albert Einstein

And all eyes upon her  — or the phone capturing her! –as she intently begins to paint live

Note: You can see the final piece painted live by OG Millie here.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Pictured above is Ecuadorian artist Toofly, captured at work this past Saturday, the official launch of the 9th Welling Court Mural Project. What follows are several more images captured by travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad this past Friday and Saturday at this model community-driven mural project conceived and curated by Ad Hoc Art.

Brooklyn-based See One at work

The legendary Daze, standing in front of his mural, produced with Crash

Swedish artist Carolina Falkholt at work      

The nomadic Never Satisfied at work

Multi-disciplinary artist Ryan Seslow, huge segment of completed mural

Cambridge, MA-based Caleb Neelon with Boston-based Lena McCarthy, close-up

The murals are on view 24/7 on and around Welling Court in Astoria, Queens.

Photos:Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad

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Today, Saturday, June 9th, marks the ninth anniversary of the extraordinary community-driven Welling Court Mural Project, conceived and curated  by Ad Hoc Art. While visiting yesterday, travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad captured several artists at work, as well as a few completed murals. Pictured above is the wonderfully talented Queen Andrea at work. Several more images follow:

John “Crash”  Matos — posing in front of his mural, based on a painting of his from 1980

Lmnopi

Joel Artista and Marc Evan at work on collaborative wall with Chris Soria

Netherlands-based Michel Velt at work

Cey Adams

KingBee at work

Peat Wollaeger aka Eyez

Herb Smith aka Veng, RWK, alongside his mural

Celebrate the launch of this model community-based mural project from 12pm – 8pm today at 11-98 Welling Court in Astoria, Queens. Check here for directions.

Photos by Karin du Maire

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fcee-paints-mural-art-nyc

Painted collaboratively by Queens-based Diego 127, FCEE and Whisper aka Chip Love, a fantastical alphabet mural has made its way onto a huge wall on 78th Street adjacent to the Garden School in Jackson Heights. While visiting the site as the mural was near completion, I spoke to classic graffiti writer, Diego 127, who had secured the space.

What an ideal spot for such a striking mural! 

Yes! I’d been eyeing this wall since I moved into this neighborhood in 2004.

alphabet-mural-r-zJPG

And how did you go about securing it for this mural?

I eventually connected with Dudley Stewart, an active member of the local community and the president of the Jackson Heights Green Alliance. And he was able to get us the support that we needed to make this happen.

How did you come up with this concept — this amazing alphabet?

Lots of text messages between Chip and me! And we loved the idea of playing with the letters of the alphabet — as we so often do — on a big wall.

alphabet-mural-jackson-heights

Why did you choose to work with white, black and grey? I love the effect. The impact of this mural is tremendous.

As an illustrator, I often work in black and white. And Chip, in particular, loves black and white.

Did you guys work from an initial sketch or did it all happen on site?

We had developed a loose plan. But the mural, itself, evolved organically. We free-styled, continually revising it and adding to it.

alphabet-mural-fragment

How long have you guys been working on this mural?

We started in May; so it’s been two months.

How have the kids responded to it?

They love it and they’ve loved watching the process.

street-art-mural-art-artists-nyc

Congratulations on this! I’m so glad I got to see it!  What a fantastical alphabet!

Interview with Diego 127 by Lois Stavsky; all photos by Lois Stavsky; photo #1 features FCEE; seated in final photo are: Whisper aka Chip LoveFCEE & Diego 127.

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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