unsanctioned art

Pushing It Forward — Illicit Creatives Making Their Mark in Staten Island: 2XL, Goal GOMD, Veng, TRAP IF, Vew, Endem, Mepz2, Bezt, Blea and Torx

June 25, 2026

This huge billboard sporting a 2XL graffiti bomb was recently spotted on Staten Island, likely painted by Notice 2XL Following are several more unsanctioned artworks — part of our ongoing series, “Pushing It Forward…” — that have surfaced on Staten Island open spaces:

Staten Island veteran writer Goal GOMD, VGL

The wonderfully versatile Veng

The prolific TRAP.IF

GI crew member Vew

  LA native Endem, DMFF and Staten Island-based Mepz2

The very busy Bezt

  Massachusetts native Blea

The playfully stylish Torx

Photo credits: 1, 3, 4, 7, Giulia Shine; 2, 5, 6, 8 & 9 Lois Stavsky

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The Art of the Tag, Part II: Zaver, Cajun, Desa, What, Tocer, Exoe, Anso, Anura, Caze, Zoot, Zane, Remedy, Curve, Mesiah, Jet, Dzel, New, Exr, Homesick, Osi, Rems, Net, Miss 17, ZB, LS, Hueso, Rukos & More

June 11, 2026

From the crudely simple to the crisply stylized, graffiti tags have been claiming and shaping NYC’s urban landscape for over half a century. Featured above are the writings of Zaver LNE and Cajun BTM. Several more images of tags we’ve captured on NYC’s open spaces follow:

Another look at Zaver LNE and Cajun BTM

Desa MTA, What KH, Tocer LNE, Exoe, Anso LNE and more

Anura and Caze One

Zoot, Remedy, Faipe, Curve, Gard, Zane and more

Mesiah

Jet BBB

Dzel AIDS, New and EXR 

Homesick

Osi and Rems

Net, Miss 17, ZB, LS, CAPS, Shock MSK, JIOne, Yes2, ICBM and more

Hueso, Anura, Rukos, and more

Photo credits:  1-3, 8, 9 & 12 Lois Stavsky; 5 Tara Murray; and 4, 6, 7, 10 & 11 Giulia Shine

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Pushing It Forward — Illicit Creatives Making Their Mark in Manhattan: Homesick, Xara Thrusta, XSM, Qzar, Zwon, Wombat ICBM, Loose r2b, Anso, Exr, Werds, Gzee, Mint/Merf, ZB, Pozer and Su One

May 21, 2026

Featured above is the now-iconic image painted on a massive East Village wall by the prolific and hugely talented Homesick in collaboration with Xara Thrusta. Following are several more unsanctioned artworks — part of our ongoing series, “Pushing It Forward…” — that have surfaced on Manhattan streets:

XSM, Qzar and Zwon

Wombat, ICBM

Loose r2b and Anso aka Ansotto

Exr, Werds, Qzar and Zwon

Mint of the legendary Mint & Serf aka Mirf

Gzee

ZB Bunny and Pozer aka PZR

SU One

Photo credits: 1, 3-8 Lois Stavsky; 2, 4, 5 & 9 Giulia Shine 

 

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Pushing It Forward —IIlicit Creatives Making Their Mark in Queens: Exr, Fumi, Jas 7, Degrupo, Gour, Angr, Spray, Vods, Timer, Eok, Minus, Dek 2DX, Seoul, South & Suba RIP

March 4, 2026

The rappel graffiti featured above was painted in Ridgewood, Queens by the masterly artists Exr and Fumi. What follows are several more images of unsanctioned artworks — in our ongoing series, “Pushing It Forward” — that have made their way onto Queens’ open spaces.

Jas 7

Degrupo

Gour, Angr, Spray and Mile

Vods and Timer

Eok, Minus and Dek 2DX

Seoul

South,  Gour & Angr,

Suba, RIP

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 4 & 5 Lois Stavsky;  3, 6, 7  & 9 Giulia Shine; 8 Tara Murray

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PUSHING IT FORWARD: ILLicit Creatives Claiming Space on the Streets of Manhattan, Part V

July 25, 2025

 

For our ongoing series of unsanctioned public art, we are back to Manhattan. Featured above are the prolific Qzar, Zwon and EXR. What follows are several more images of illicit artworks captured on the streets of Manhattan.

The ever-active Wombat and ICBM Crew

Distort, Werd and Brazilian writer Eneri (Irene)

Dzel, AIDS Crew

MadVaillan and Sokem

Riot, AVL

ZigZag, Wombat, Notice 44K and more

Post and photos by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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PUSHING IT FORWARD: ILLicit Creatives Claiming Space on the Streets of Queens, NYC, Part VI

March 19, 2025

As we continue our monthly posts of illicit graffiti, we are back to the streets of Queens. Pictured above are: Wevs429, Dase, Oldeath, Angr and South LNE. What follows are several more images of unsanctioned graffiti captured in Queens public spaces:

Tocer and Anso LNE

Kitty and Degrupo

 Exr and Werds aka OptimoNYC 

Kempe and Cros

Mer

Gour

Loom

Post and photos by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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PUSHING IT FORWARD: ILLicit Creatives Claiming Space on the Streets of the Bronx, Part IV

February 19, 2025

 

The birthplace of global graffiti, the Bronx remains a treasure trove of all kinds of markings, many unsanctioned. Featured above are Ammo, Vase, Jio, Griz and Uno. Several more images — captured on our recent hunting sprees — follow:

Pade

Chapo and Rukos

 Exr and Dzel AIDS

Sokem, Tower and Jaque rappel graffiti– above tag by Stu AOB

MTNW, Eaks, Quez, Ammo & more — as captured through a miniscule opening

Sko AVL, Ireek, Misk AVL and Ceek AVL

Yuk, VAT

Smog

SIXGOD

Post and photos by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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PUSHING IT FORWARD: ILLicit Creatives Claiming Space on the Streets of Manhattan, Part III

October 12, 2023

In this twelfth post in our new series, PUSHING IT FORWARD — featuring ILLicit creatives claiming space on NYC streets — we’re back to Manhattan. Pictured above on a West Side shutter are Katsu, EM1 and Neckface   Several more images of unsanctioned Manhattan markings follow:

Ansotto

Volvo and Reboe, LNE

West Coast writer Jazman and Optimo NYC, along with a political statement/question

Ansotto and Goog

Homesick and Wild Boy West

Wombat, Aneko, ZigZag, Saxon, Suckybat and more

Nilo

Note: A limited edition of the Pushing It Forward collective’s first zine — edited by Lois Stavsky and designed by Lord K2 — was recently released. Several copies are available at Village Works in NYC and at So Books in Tokyo, Japan.

Post and photos by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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PUSHING IT FORWARD: ILLicit Creatives Claiming Space on the Streets of the Bronx, Part III

July 20, 2023

In this twelfth post in our new series, PUSHING IT FORWARD — featuring ILLicit creatives claiming space on NYC streets — we’re back to the Bronx. Pictured above is Avert — hunted down in Hunts Point. Several more images of Bronx markings follow:

The ubiquitous Cope2 

Riot

Dase and NA

Roach

Dzel and Elude, AIDS Crew

Aster — whose tag seems to keep on surfacing!

And a treasure trove of markings on a freight spotted along the tracks in Mott Haven

Post by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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PUSHING IT FORWARD: ILLicit Creatives Claiming Space on the Streets of Brooklyn, Part III

June 11, 2023

Back with our documentation of ILLicit Creatives claiming space on the streets of NYC, this post focuses on the markings that have surfaced on open spaces in Brooklyn. Featured above are the legendary 2DX members DEK and ZROC. What follows are several more images captured these past several weeks in Brooklyn.

Angr

Reap

Homesick, Uwont and Carve

Duel RIS

Tears and Regae

South LNE

Scarento

Post by the Pushing It Forward Collective

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