street art

Street Art NYC in Rome’s Quadrado Neighborhood with: Beau Stanton, Dilka Bear, Maupal, Ron English, Veks Van Hillik and Mr. Thoms

September 30, 2015

The following post is by Houda Lazrak, a contributor to StreetArtNYC and an M.A. candidate in Museum Studies at NYU:

The MURo Project, the Museum of Urban Art of Rome, is a mural initiative whose goal is to rejuvenate the streets of the largely working-class Quadrado neighborhood on the Eastern outskirts of Rome. Artists who have beautified the district include local, as well as international, ones. By referencing a map available online on MURo’s website, I navigated through the streets and found several of these works in hidden and unexpected locations. What follows are a few:

Kazakhstan native Dilka Bear

Italian artist Maupal

New York-based Ron English

French artist Veks Van Hillik

Rome-based Mr. Thoms

Close-up

Note: First image features New York-based Beau Stanton.

All photos by Houda Lazrak

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Writing on the Walls in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Part II: Joel Artista, Welin, Ben Angotti, Zeso, Teo Doro and Phetus

September 27, 2015

Writing onthe Walls is an ongoing project launched last year by N Carlos J – noted artist, community revitalizer and founder of Brooklyn Is the Future — for his father, a Brownsville native who had been diagnosed with cancer. This is Part II of our continuing documentation of it:

Danish artist Welin

Brooklyn-based Ben Angotti

French artist Zeso, close-up

Chilean artist Teo Doro

Long Island-based Phetus

And you can find out here how you can help support this wonderfully transformative project.

Note: The first image is by Joel Bergner aka Joel Artista.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 4-6 Tara Murray; 3 Lois Stavsky

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Street Art NYC at Berlin’s Young African Art Market: The Weird Crew, Sokar Uno, Juliah, Gamze Yalcin, Manoel Quitério, Paola Delfin & more

September 25, 2015

The following post is by Houda Lazrak, a contributor to StreetArtNYC and an M.A. candidate in Museum Studies at NYU:

Since 1994, YAAM, the Young African Art Market in Berlin, has served a myriad of purposes — from a home away from home for refugees to an open air gallery for graffiti and street artists. The following photos are of works I recently saw in this space that has evolved into a model of social and cultural integration:

The Berlin-based Weird Crew

Close-up

Berlin-based Sokar Uno

With German artist Juliah

Istanbul-based Gamze Yalcin and Brazilian artist Manoel Quitério

Mexican artist Paola Delfin

Note: Featured in the first image are Vhils, the Weird Crew and Alaniz

All photos by Houda Lazrak

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Street Art NYC in Bristol: Sepr, Nick Walker, Banksy, Philth, N4T4, Jody Thomas, Epok and Soker

September 22, 2015

Brimming with stylish graffiti, witty stencil art and a wonderfully eclectic mix of murals, Bristol has it all! Here is a small sampling of images that we captured earlier this month:

Bristol-based Sepr

Bristol native Nick Walker

Bristol’s legendary Banksy, “Well-Hung Lover”

Bristol-based Philth and UK artist N4T4

Bristol-based Jody Thomas

Bristol-based Epok

Bristol-based Soker

Photo credits: 1, 4-7 Tara Murray; 2 & 3 Lois Stavsky

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Escape (Legalize Freedom): French Street Artist, Painter and Performer SP38 Brings His Iconic Urban Poetry to the Quin

September 19, 2015

The noted French artist SP38 made his NYC debut this past week at the Quin Hotel on West 57th Street. Curated by DK Johnston, SP38‘s exhibit, Escape (Legalize Freedom), features the artist’s iconic text-based works that continue to surface across the globe. While visiting the Quin Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to speak to the artist.

You are currently based in Berlin. What brought you there? And what prompted you to stay?

I first came to Berlin 20 years ago. There was so much empty space at the time, and the city — after the German reunification — was especially welcoming to artists. Before moving to Berlin, I had been living in artist squats in Paris.

The streets are the principal canvas for your urban poetry. Why the streets?

It is the best way for me to get my message across to the world. The streets allow me to reach so many people.

Among your statements that have surfaced in public spaces are: “ESCAPE,” “OCCUPY,” “SLAVES,” “VIVE LA BOURGEOISIE,” “NO PROPAGANDA,” “NO MONEY NO ART” and “I DON’T WANT TO BE U’RE FRIEND ON FACEBOOK.” The name of this exhibit here at the Quin, in fact, is ESCAPE (Legalize Freedom). What is your intent in putting these messages out there?

I am interested in provoking a reaction. I want folks to think about what is happening. And I use humor and sarcasm because I also want to make them laugh.

Have you any favorite surfaces?

I love old doors and new walls. I focus on how my message will work within its immediate environment, as well as its general surroundings.

Besides Berlin, where else have you gotten up? And how have folks responded to your work?

I’ve brought my urban poetry to Seoul, Ragoon, Montreal, Bristol, Santiago and the Philippines. The response has always been positive!

How has your work evolved since you first started sharing it on public spaces?

As I get older, it has become cleaner and more simple. I especially like writing on white paper.

What about NYC? What is your impression of our city?

I love it! It is a mix of everything cool!

Escape (Legalize Freedom) remains on view at The Quin Hotel, 101 West 57th Street at Sixth Avenue.

Photo credits: 1, 3 and 5 via artist’s Instagram; 2 and 4 (close-up from video wall) at the Quin by Lois Stavsky; interview by Lois Stavsky

Note: Images 3 & 5 on the streets of Berlin

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Street Art NYC in London, Part II: Joachim, Stinkfish, Otto Schade, Cityzen Kane, Phlegm, Conor Harrington, Thierry Noir, Cranio, My Dog Sighs, Spzero76, Captain Kris and Bailon

September 18, 2015

This is Part II of street art and graffiti images — reflecting a wildly diverse range of aesthetic and cultural sensibilities — that we came upon in London last week:

Belgian artist Joachim and Bogota-based Stinkfish

Chilean artist Otto Schade

London-based Cityzen Kane, close-up from 3D installation in memory of his son

UK-based Phlegm, close-up

Irish artist Conor Harrington

The legendary Berlin Wall artist Thierry Noir

Brazilian artist Cranio and UK-based My Dog Sighs

Bristol-based Spzero76 and London-based Captain Kris at work in Shoreditch

Brazilian artist Bailon

Photo credits: 1 – 3, 5 – 8 Tara Murray; 4 & 9 Lois Stavsky

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Street Art NYC in London, Part I: David Walker, Pez, Stik, Vinie, Martin Ron, Jekse & Cines, Alexis Diaz & Elian and TelmoMiel

September 17, 2015

Drawing artists from across the globe, alongside its diverse mix of local artists, London’s walls reflect a wildly varied range of aesthetic sensibilities. Here’s a sampling of what we viewed last week:

London-based David Walker and Barcelona native Pez to the side

London-based Stik in front of long-running mural

French artist Vinie

Argentinian artist Martin Ron

Chilean artists Jekse & Cines

Puerto Rican artist Alexis Diaz and Argentinean artist Elian

Dutch duo TelmoMiel

Note: Part II to follow

Photo credits: 1 – 3 Tara Murray; 4 – 7 Lois Stavsky

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Shepard Fairey Paints Huge Mural for Mana Contemporary in Jersey City

September 16, 2015

Coinciding with On Our Hands, his solo exhibit of mixed media paintings opening tomorrow evening at Chelsea’s Jacob Lewis Gallery, Shepard Fairey is bringing his distinct aesthetic to two Mana Contemporary spaces in Jersey City. The following photos were captured earlier this week by Audrey Connolly aka byte girl at the Mana Ice House, 581 Monmouth Street:

At work with spray can in hand

On a brief, contemplative break

And at work with his crew

The mural in its final stages — representing Shepard Fairey’s aesthetic vision fusing Russian Constructivism, Chinese Communist propaganda and Americana