Street Art NYC | From the streets of New York

Olafur Eliasson: The collectivity project — with Two Tons of White LEGO® Bricks — Continues Through Wednesday on the High Line

September 26, 2015

For the past several months, visitors of all ages to the High Line have been busily constructing and reconstructing an imaginary cityscape. Presented by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the collectivity project, an installation of two tons of white LEGO® bricks, is part of the High Line’s open-air group exhibition, Panorama. Here are a few images that we captured:

Selecting the bricks

Encountering some frustration

Building with LEGO blocks

Fashioning the cityscape

A city-in-progress

The collectivity project continues daily 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on the High Line at West 30th Street through Wednesday.

Photo credits: 1, 3 & 5 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2 & 6 Tara Murray; 4 City-as-School intern Stefan Vargas

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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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Eric Orr on His New Hunts Point Studio Space, His iconic Robothead, the Schomburg Center, the New York Comic Con and more

September 24, 2015

Best known for his iconic Robothead and his subway collaborations with Keith Haring, South Bronx native Eric Orr can now be found most days in his new Hunts Point studio. I recently had the opportunity to meet up with him there.

What a great space! When did you begin working here?

It’s been four months now. It couldn’t be more perfect, as it’s just a short ride from my house and convenient to just about everything.

How does working in a studio differ from working in your apartment?

It’s an entirely different experience. There’s a lot less traffic here. I can leave my paint on the floor and know that it will still be there when I return. I have the freedom to create without having to put things away. And my family is happy too! No more fumes and no more paint in their way!

How does having your own space impact your work as an artist?

Bigger thoughts and bigger pieces. I’m planning to design huge sculptures and paint on larger surfaces. Can you imagine what I’d be doing now if I had a space like this 40 years ago!

You are currently participating in Leave a Message, a group exhibit — curated by Tes One — at St. Petersburg’s Morean Arts Center. What’s next?

I’m showing in Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination, an art and design exhibit — curated by John Jennings and Reynaldo Anderson — at the Schomburg Center’s Latimer Edison Gallery. On exhibit are photos of the 1984 Eric Orr and Keith Haring subway drawings, along with an original 1986 cover of my Rappin Max Robot comic book. I will also be exhibiting five new Robothead masks recently created in the new studio space. Then later this year I will have a solo exhibit at WallWorks Gallery.

What about the upcoming New York Comic Con? Can we expect to see you there?

Yes! I will have hand-embellished mini posters of the cover of my Rappin Max Robot #1 comic book available for purchase. I will also be speaking on the Hip-Hop & Comics: Cultures Combining panel discussion with Depth of Field‘s, Patrick Reed on October 8, 2015 at 11 AM.

I am looking forward to it all!

Note: Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination opens tomorrow evening, Friday, September 25, at the Schomburg Center’s Latimer Edison Gallery, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem.

Photo credits: 1 & 3, courtesy of the artist; 2 & 4 Lois Stavsky; interview by Lois Stavsky

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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