One day in New York is enough to observe various graffiti filling the city space. Districts, where street art is present at almost every turn, are gaining more and more publicity, and the multitude of topics and artists, attracting residents and tourists.
Street art, once even perceived as an act of vandalism, has come a long way to become street art. Today, artistic activity in urban space touches upon important social and cultural problems, provoking discussions and analyzes.
In the shade of Manhattan
Let’s take a look at one of the greener and more populated neighborhoods in New York City. Full of parks and squares, Brooklyn is a kind of bedroom for those professionally connected with expensive Manhattan. It is distinguished by multiculturalism and ethnic diversity. It is here that immigrants who come to fulfill their famous American dream take their first steps. Wandering around the district, we will notice abandoned factories and old tenement houses, whose walls are a space regularly occupied by the creators of city murals, and the interiors are the seat of small art studios. Street art artists gave the district a second life, decorating the city space with multi-colored murals.
Unique project
The hipster Williamsburg is also noteworthy. Located within its borders, The Bushwick Collective is a real paradise for street art lovers. The mural on the mural, the variety of paintings, styles and artists will provide an aesthetic experience for at least a two-hour hike. This place shows that business is great with art – business owners donate their walls, and artists spend time and resources to fill them with a mural project. Among the artists, we can see the works of the Argentinean Andres Petrosseli, who paints faces with magnetizing gazes. An interesting fact is one of his last murals, in which he portrayed his own sister staring at the passing painting. Sipros Naberezny also belongs to the Bushwick Collective family. His works have appeared on the walls of a street gallery many times. The artist’s projects are distinguished by the characteristic big ears painted on his characters. In his paintings, Naberezny deals with social issues, and he devoted several murals to the memory of the great absentees: actor James Gandolfini or rapper Notorious B.I.G.
Art on your own terms
The specificity of Queens, a district often ignored by mass tourism, attracts lovers of art that goes beyond the limits. At the MoSA street art museum, we will come across murals that are not only watched, but also experienced. From the very beginning, we are welcomed by a real festival of creativity and craftsmanship. MoSA brings together fantastic and worth remembering creators, such as Don Rmix, Esteban Del Valle and Meres One. Queens street art also manifests itself in slightly smaller, local initiatives. An example is The Welling Court Mural Project, created out of the needs of Welling Court residents, who were driven by the desire to revive the area and give it a unique character. Ten years after the inauguration of the project, colorful murals adorn the walls of residential buildings in almost all directions of the area. The project has brought together over 150 artists from around the world – we will find there, among others works by Greg Lamarche or Abe Lincoln.
Mural „The Baayfalls” to podwójny portret Fallou – kobiety,z którą Casteel zaprzyjaźnił się podczas jej rezydentury artystycznej w The Studio Museum w Harlemie – oraz jej brata, Baaye Demba Sow.Patrons of street art
The growing circle of artists and the growing importance they occupy in the artistic space of New York City gave rise to an organization supporting urban art, the creative community and the creative spirit. Brooklyn Street Art (BSA) observes new trends appearing on city streets, redefining the concept of street art. Through its activities, it connects various circles – independent artists, collectors and institutions. The founders are appreciated primarily for the wide popularization of murals and the care they provide for their creators. Shephard Fairey, a respected graffiti artist, graphic artist, illustrator and social activist, points out: “BSA is not a street art blog. It is the most diverse and profound service, encompassing the street or “city” art movement and all its eclectic mutations.
