Street Art in New York City
The street art movement including graffiti and murals are made by exceptional young artists from all over the world. Not only does it create a buzz, but also makes the neighborhood really alive and memorable. Street art could be a mean of self-expression that the generations want to exhibit through abstract forms.
Below I have presented few of the street artworks in New York and what I would like to share about them:
Station 1: Mural by Dasic Fernández
This is a mural on 20th St and 8 Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood. He is a Chilean Artist inspired by the hip-hop culture and aims to transform the city’s visual landscape. There is a very poetic and graphic style to it along with the variety of bright colors. Dasic Fernández also added one his signature ‘inverse drip’. His mural includes figures from everyday life and sort of the rebellious generation like his own.
Station 2: Audrey Hepburn by Tristan Eaton
The American artist was a part of L.I.S.A. (Little Italy Street Art) Project, an initiative that formed a community of diverse group of street artists to create Manhattan’s only mural district near historic Mulberry Street. In the mural, one can see the play of vivid colors and patterns contrasted with the black and white portrait of Audrey Hepburn. The mural stands out because of the intensity of colors against the white brick wall.
Station 3: Lady Liberty by Tristan Eaton
The artist came up with another piece for the project at Mulberry Street. The imagery of this mural is a tribute to the city. Beyond creating a portrait, it is a patchwork or sort of mosaic forming the shape of Lady Liberty’s face with messages and patterns throughout; yet keeping her resemblance alive.
Station 4: Temper Tot by Ron English
This was created for the New York Comedy Festival and Little Italy Street Art Crawl. The works were made by some of the funniest street artists. Including Ron English who painted the gigantic, bright green hulkish figure called “Temper Tot,” and there are a couple of comic puns on the sides of restaurant. The aim of this was to invite more people and create a humorous environment.
Station 5: I hold With Those Who Favor Fire by B.D. White
This is White’s portrait of Ai Weiwei with Robert Frost’s quote from Fire and Ice, as part of his collaboration with JPO art in Little Italy. It is just a form of Documenting the creatively rebellious side of urbanity. This was made on the bottom stand of a street lamp.
All in all, street art is a powerful graphic movement and a creative way to engage in public spaces. It was difficult to express what each artist would be thinking because street art as loud and eye catching it is, it is also very personal and belongs to the artist. It becomes a form of storytelling while each individual artist experiments with content, themes and style that create an impact on spaces and emotions. It translates raw emotions into imaginative, influential and significant works of art while visually attaching human insight. “Painting on the street carries great responsibility—both artistic and social.” – Dasic Fernández
This is how I presented the tour to my class:
