All posts tagged: Brooklyn Street Art

Mantra – An “End Of Spring” Diary

June 22, 2023 Artists

“Spring marks longer days, nature in full bloom, and the wrapping up of my European tour. With exciting things in the works, more explorations, new studios in Switzerland and Mexico, and plenty of projects lined up, I would like to take this time to share some of this season’s journey. Sit back, relax, and enjoy these moments!” – Mantra

Mantra. Oskarshamn Street Art Festival. Oskarshamn, Sweden. (photo © courtesy of Youri Cansell)

Look who just happened to fly by – It’s French street artist and naturalist Mantra with a diary of what projects he has been involved in this spring. Now that we are officially in summer for one day, we thought you would like to see the recap of this prolific and quick painting scientist. Yes, Mantra’s artworks transcend aesthetics by delving into the realm of scientific exploration. He meticulously incorporates biology, ecology, and zoology elements into his pieces, demonstrating a profound understanding of the natural world.

Mantra. Fimon, Italy. (photo © courtesy of Youri Cansell)

Mantra’s attention to scientific detail is probably unparalleled in today’s street art/mural scene, as he painstakingly replicates the textures, patterns, and colors of various organisms, mainly insects and marine life. His artworks often feature magnified views of creatures in realistic fashion, revealing the intricate beauty hidden within their microscopic worlds. And we’re pleased to bring to BSA readers Mantra’s personal musings about his experiences this spring.

~ by Mantra

I was very honored to return for the fourth edition of the Oskarshamn Street Art Festival. This freehand mural, entitled The Oskarhamn Collection, illustrates butterflies like the Clouded Yellow (Colias Croceus) or the Large Blue (Phengaris Arion), which are only found in this part of the country on the southeast side of the Baltic Sea. This collection brings harmony that balances with the natural architecture of this building and strengthens the ambiance with a soft color palette.”

In the midst of spring, during my time in Fimon, Italy, I had the incredible opportunity to witness the breathtaking countryside of Arcugnano in full bloom. I was able to closely observe most of the specimens I selected for my project right in front of the wall. This mural serves as a captivating reflection of the Veneto region’s rich and diverse ecosystem, inviting us to appreciate the intricate details of each unique species on a grand scale.

Mantra. Braedstrup, Denmark. (photo © courtesy of Youri Cansell)

Returning to Denmark was another great experience, this time to visit Braedstrup alongside Kunstbureauet Kolossal. In this latest piece, entitled A Poplar Admiral Journey, I immersed myself in the natural habitat of butterflies within this region. By surrounding them with the lush flora that constitutes their world, I aimed to appreciate their ecosystem and imagine what life could be like in their captivating microcosm. I hope that this mural brings harmony to the town and initiates curiosity about these fascinating insects, inspiring a deeper respect for the natural world around us.

Mantra. Metz, France. Work in progress. (photo © courtesy of Youri Cansell)

This mural, in my hometown of Metz, France, is composed of photographs I took of flowers, insects, and other aspects of nature that inspired me while visiting the Metz botanic garden and the lush countryside. The woman in this mural, Leeloo Clasen, was born and raised in Metz and is a ballet dancer at the conservatory. Immersed in a tranquil moment of reading, Leelo is surrounded by plants and butterflies, a tribute to the green city where I grew up.

To learn more about Mantra, his trips, projects, and his thoughts click HERE and follow him on https://www.instagram.com/mantrarea/

GAR GAR Festival Celebrates 8 Years in Penelles, Spain

June 21, 2023 Artists

The Gar Gar Festival in Penelles, Spain, is in its eighth edition this year, showcasing street art, muralism, and a new fleet of artists creating pleasant and clever attractions for city walls.

“The festival hopes to generate resources that allow us to correct the effects of time and the deterioration of our streets, reinspiring hope in our neighbours,” says the website, and who can deny the regenerative effect that street art has been adding to moribund sectors of the urban environment for the last decade or two.

Gijs Vanhee. Detail. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Mounted in early May this year over a period of a 3 day festival, Gar Gar featured nine hundred square meters of murals and a program of art, projection mapping, music, expositions, craft beer, and food trucks, along with workshops related to other artistic disciplines. A cooperative of public and privately funded projects, Gar Gar is steered and administered with the help of the advertising and interactive design firm Binomic Cat, which also brings artists together for commercial walls on other occasions.

We’re pleased to show you some of the murals this year thanks to the talent and industry of photographer Lluis Bulbena Olivas, who shares his images here with BSA readers.

Gijs Vanhee. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena

Anna Repullo. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Wedo Goas. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Sucri & Furyo. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Guillermo Font (2022). Sucri & Furyo. Miquel Wert (2021). GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Kamma Marlo. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Pedro Poder. Detail. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Pedro Podre. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Rame. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Helene Planquelle. Detail. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Helene Planquelle. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Stillo Noir. Detail. GarGar Festival 2023. Penelles, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Pener & Autone Paint a Quick Wall in Gdynia

June 20, 2023 Artists

Looks like Pener got some of Autone’s patterned circuitry welded into his layered metal abstractions this weekend when the two friends got together in Gdynia, Poland. The viewer and the artists learn more about their individual practices when they create something collaboratively, and the more familiar you are with their personal style, the greater appreciation one gains.

Pener X AutOne. Gdynia / Poland. (photo courtesy of Pener)

Back here in his hometown on the Baltic Sea coast, Pener for his vibrant and geometric murals, characterized by bold colors, intricate patterns, and dynamic compositions. Map-like and electrically diagrammatic, Autone’s angular style is freestyle and automatic, possibly a deconstruction of the graffiti writing he began doing in the late 1990s.

Either way, it looks like these two found an improvisational vibe to work together on something new and to enjoy June’s warm temperatures. a fitting partner for improvisation on a warm June day.

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.18.23

June 18, 2023 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week! These are our longest days of the year. Savor them, luxuriate in them, celebrate the light. The trees, the grass, the plants, all richly green. The breezes are smooth against your cheek, the sound of kids screaming as they play in the park is like music.

The ebb and flow of humanity washes across the pavement daily here in our gritty city – forlorn, inquisitive, raucous, opinionated, gentle, buoyant, clever, blunt, wonderous, rarely neutral. Our murals are mighty, our styles can be wild, illustrative, fantastic, inertly corporate, romantically impressionist, electric and eclectic. Unlike many downtowns, this collection is organic and unmediated – perfectly imperfect. As inhospitable as this city can feel to a newcomer, remember this; You are welcome. Do your thing.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Faile, Joe Iurato, Queen Andrea, Dasic Fernandez, Optimo NYC, CES, Hef, Spot, KMS Crew, Ange, Bekah Bad, Logan Hicks, Hiraku, Agud, Lexi bella, and Jeff Hernandez.

Dasic Fernandez and a portrait of DJ Kool Herc (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hiraku. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Lexi Bella. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Looks like Joe’s son is getting bigger. Joe Iurato & Logan Hicks. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Joe Iurato & Logan Hicks. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Optimo NYC and friends smashing the Houston Wall. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faile dipping back to one of their early images, updated with hand rendered “1986” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

CES. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bekah Bad for East Village Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ANGE. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

HEF & SPOT. KMS CREW. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

HEF & SPOT. KMS CREW. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Summer 2023. Hot Pink Hollyhock. New York City. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023 – Recap

June 17, 2023 Artists

Following the evolution of The Bushwick Collective and its annual block party in Brooklyn has been a captivating journey akin to an anthropological exploration into the growing embrace of street art and murals within the realms of graffiti and HipHop. Back in the day, as the neighborhood began transforming with the influx of gentrifiers, street art faced outright dismissal or was treated as a rare phenomenon, a curiosity.

Unaware of the previous codes that roughly governed the practices of graffiti writers on the street, art-students-cum-street-art-poets often obtusely stomped their way into public view to circumvent a gallery system and to express their right to self-expression in public; something HipHop culture had been encouraging for years but had perhaps not envisioned this way. The rivalry between graffiti aficionados and street artists/muralists was sometimes palpable, with throwies vandalizing fresh paint, the OGs asserting territorial dominance, and at times, even resorting to threats and insults in person and in online forums.

Huetek celebrating the location of the so-called ‘Birth of HipHop’, 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

As the block party, now in its twelfth year, unfolded, its early editions predominantly featured international and some local street artists eagerly seeking out BC’s visionary leader, Joe Ficalora, for an opportunity to leave their mark on his neighborhood walls. Local street art forums found fault with Ficalora, masking a barely hidden contempt for a streetwise guy taking a leadership role and betraying their own classist privileged opinions about the right to curation. That has all melted appreciably; this year’s event evidenced the remarkable shift that has been underway. Graffiti writers took the stage alongside the muralists in prime spots, sometimes seamlessly collaborating to create art transcending boundaries, all while the electrifying sounds of live HipHop performances reverberated through the air and TikTokers danced in front of them.

SEPC. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Let’s raise a bottle to those who always believed in the possibility of this transformative phenomenon, and to those who championed inclusivity over exclusivity. It’s yet another reason why our hearts beat for this extraordinary international art movement, the embodiment of the people’s democratic spirit and the unlimited creative spirit that is in every person. And most importantly, it’s a reminder of why we hold you dear.

SEPC. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Tymon De Laat. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Urban Ruben. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Urban Ruben. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

V Ballentine. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes – recreating an iconic New York deli exterior in all its glory. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Zach Curtis in collaboration with Danny Cortes. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jason Naylor. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hodder. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hodder. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Vexta. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Vexta. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dasic Fernandez. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Enjoy Hads. Six Million Dollar Steve. Mr. Makro. Brandy. Creating a tribute to David Jude Jolicoeur, who rapped as Trugoy the Dove in the trio De La Soul. He passed away in February at 54. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Roachi. Hoacs. Quest. Fours Crew. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mate Artist. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cody James. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Corey Pane. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Corey Pane. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mr. Blob. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mr. Blob. Detail. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mister Alek. TankOne. The Bushwick Collective Block Party 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Film Friday: 06.16.23

June 16, 2023 Artists, BSA Film Friday

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Our weekly focus is on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities.

Now screening:
1. Joiri Minaya’s Pattern Making. A Film by Alina Rancier

2. My Father’s Secret Ballet Career / Dad Can Dance / Via The New Yorker / A Film by Jamie and David Ross.

3. Tactical Urbanismo / Graphic interventions on the streets of Barcelona / Arauna

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BSA Special Feature: Joiri Minaya’s Pattern Making. A Film by Alina Rancier

Joiri Minaya has a varied multidisciplinary practice – one that is appropropriate to what we study here at BSA is The Cloaking (2020) where the artist uses hand painted patterns in spandex to cover monuments of colonizers.

“I’m thinking of a way to re-signify that public space that is used to commemorate, uh, colonial history and instead trying to commemorate the people who resisted colonialism, who don’t have a statue,” she says. “I’m just thinking of public space as this space that’s supposed to be democratic – but then of course there are forces that determine what is more significant and what is left out. So I’m trying to tell the stories that remain untold.”

Joiri Minaya’s Pattern Making. Via Art21. A Film by Alina Rancier

My Father’s Secret Ballet Career / Dad Can Dance / Via The New Yorker / A Film by Jamie and David Ross.

“My dad was a ballet dancer, and for almost 45 years, no one in the world knew that he was.”

A personal mystery with multiple layers, at the heart of which is an artist who chooses a different route, yet never stops being an artist. There are a few stunning observations throughout, including some by a dancer who followed the path. She’s talking about dance, but you could easily substitute any field of art here.

“You’re called,” she says. “You know, there’s a lot of difficult aspects of it, a lot of painful aspects, a lot of criticism. You’re putting yourself out there. You have to deal with a lot of competition. It’s not about making your living that way. It’s about having the opportunity to be able to share that depth inside of yourself with other people.”

Tactical Urbanismo / Graphic interventions on the streets of Barcelona / Arauna

Banksy Opens “Cut & Run” in Glasgow

June 15, 2023 Artists

Banksy: Cut and Run

25 years card labour

An exhibition of stencils from 1998-2023

A little excitement for the Street Art world this summer – the news that the international man of mystery Banksy opens a new show in Glasgow documenting his first 25 years of stenciling.

“I’ve kept these stencils hidden away for years,” he says in a press statement, “mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage. But that moment seems to have passed, so now I’m exhibiting them as works of art in a gallery. I’m not sure which is the greater crime.”

Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow.
June 15- Aug 28.

Banksy: Cut and Run

18 June-28 August 2023

An exhibition of stencils from 1998-2023

Get tickets from the exhibition website: https://cutandrun.co.uk/

Adult £15, Concession £10, Child £5, Carers free

Wide Open Walls 2023: Sacramento Schools Get Time to Shine

June 14, 2023 Artists

The Wide Open Walls (WOW) festival, which originated as the Sacramento Mural Festival in 2016, has evolved into a remarkable celebration of art and community, thanks to the dedicated efforts of principal organizer/curator David Sobon, and a coalition of public and private interests. Over the years, this extraordinary event has embellished the urban landscape of the greater Sacramento area, including its suburbs, by adorning more than 200 walls with captivating murals.

Evaristo Angurria. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

In line with its commitment to uplifting schools, the WOW festival took on a renewed emphasis on school campuses this year, with Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School as a prominent example. Collaborating with approximately 40 artists, encompassing local talents and renowned national and international figures, the festival unveiled a collection of awe-inspiring murals within the school grounds, captivating the imaginations of students, educators, and the wider community.

The WOW festival is a powerful manifestation of the symbiotic relationship between art, society, and business. It forges connections, fosters cultural understanding, and instills a sense of community pride by creating new murals that respond to the community. This year, celebrated photographer Martha Cooper was invited to document as many of the new murals as possible, and we are delighted to share her captivating captures with the readers of Brooklyn Street Art.

Within the walls of Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School, the murals become portals to the imagination, stimulating critical thinking and nurturing cultural appreciation among the students. This project creates an environment where creativity and learning converge, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who experience it. The profound impact of the WOW festival at Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School stands as a testament to the enduring power of art in shaping communities, inspiring young minds, and hopefully cultivating an engaging and inclusive world.

Nico Few & Far. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Ian The Painter. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Emer916. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Jonathan Martinez. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Rachel Wolfe. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Jose DiGregorio. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

HERA. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Ryan Dominguez. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Leon Willis. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Wide Open Walls team member, Karin du Maire provided invaluable assistance to Martha during her stay in Sacramento with transportation around the city; she also helped Martha with the art exhibition and saved the day by quickly jumping into action to organize a panel discussion that at the last moment seemed not to be happening. (photo © Martha Cooper)

SEPC. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Max Ehrman. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Kosono Okina. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Registered Artist. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Jim Rizzi. Wide Open Walls. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Wide Open Walls 2023. Rosa Parks Elementary and Middle School. Sacramento, California. (photo © Martha Cooper)

For more information on the event and the roster of artists, https://www.wideopenwalls.com/lineup/

NeSpoon and the Cross of Toulouse in Blagnac, France

June 13, 2023 Artists

We again join the world of street artist Nespoon, this time nestled in the enchanting town of Blagnac, in the picturesque region of Occitania, which serves as the backdrop for her latest artistic endeavor. Blagnac (pop. 23,759), a serene residential suburb of Toulouse in the south of France, is not only known for its tranquility but also for being home to the illustrious headquarters of Airbus, the largest aerospace corporation in the world.

Invited by the curator, Maud O’Jeanson, Nespoon embarked on a journey that would culminate in a solo exhibition of her paintings and sculpture at the esteemed Odyssud Cultural Center from May 12th to July 5th, 2023. As is her custom, she was also commissioned to create new work for the walls of the city hall.

NeSpoon. City Hall. Blagnac, France. (photo courtesy of the artist)

The city authorities proposed a project that paid homage to the ancient symbol of the region, the Cross of Occitania. This revered emblem, also known as the Cross of Toulouse or, albeit inaccurately, the Cross of the Cathars, has held profound significance for over a millennium. In the medieval era, it adorned the coat of arms of the St-Gilles family, the Counts of Toulouse. Today, this emblem can be found on official symbols of local government bodies, fluttering on flags, etched into house walls, wrought in iron on bridge balustrades, and even imprinted on postcards. Its ubiquity extends to the local subway, where it marks its presence, and it is cherished as jewelry, sought-after souvenirs, and even as graffiti on urban walls. Some believe that the origins of the Toulouse cross predate Christianity, possibly once representing a radiant sun wheel with its twelve rays. Traditionally, the numbers 3, 4, and 12 were intricately incorporated into this symbol.

In a Nespoonian twist, the artist chose to disrupt this rhythmic pattern and embark on a deconstruction journey of the symbol. Adding new elements and forging novel divisions and symmetries, she breathed new life into this timeless icon. The numerical essence of her project can be described by the numbers 4, 5, 8, and 20, intricately interwoven into her mesmerizing creations.

Inspired by the intricate artistry of lace, Nespoon derived her pattern for the mural from a delicate technique called tatting. Every stroke and design element bore her mark, infusing the cross with her own artistic language. Despite the challenges posed by the surprisingly cool and rainy May weather in this region, Nespoon devoted ten days to her work transforming the city hall’s façade.

Nespoon extends her heartfelt gratitude to the city of Blagnac, the team at Odyssud, and especially Maud O’Jeanson for their unwavering support in making this extraordinary project a reality.

NeSpoon. Odyssud Cultural Center. Blagnac, France. (photo courtesy of the artist)

NeSpoon’s Dentelle de rue at the Odyssud Cultural Center runs until July 05, 2023. Click HERE for more details.

JAHRU Paints Youth in ‘FLUX’ in Mount Rainier, Maryland

June 12, 2023 Artists

“…multiple emotional states caught between contemplation and confrontation”

The Gateway Arts District is a vibrant arts community located in Mount Rainier, Maryland, near the northeastern border of Washington, D.C. It is a designated Arts and Entertainment District that encompasses several neighborhoods, including Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Hyattsville. The district is home to a wide range of artists, including painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, writers, and performers. The district aims to foster creativity and support local artists by providing affordable live-work spaces, galleries, studios, and performance venues. It also serves as a hub for artistic collaboration, expression, and cultural exchange.

JAHRU. *FLUX*. Otis Street Arts Project. Mount Rainier, Maryland. (photo courtesy of the artist)

One of the main attractions is the Gateway Arts Center, a multi-purpose arts facility that features galleries, artist studios, and performance spaces. It hosts exhibitions, workshops, art classes, and community events, showcasing the talents of local artists and engaging the public in the artistic process.

Recently, Filipino-American artist Jeff Huntington, also known as JAHRU, painted a mural on the wall of the Otis Street Arts Project. This project is part of a complex of warehouse studios that mainly hosts artists from the Washington DC metropolitan area. JAHRU is the co-founder, along with Julia Gibb, of Future History Now, a nonprofit arts outreach program for teens that brings murals to walls in the community.

For his new mural named “FLUX,” JAHRU offers commentary on the divided attention and feelings of distraction that arise from our adoption of new behaviors with social media and smartphones. Using his niece as a muse, the artist positions the teenager as “existing in a rapidly changing world of daily updates and reconfigurations seen through an electronic screen.” He explains, “The superimposed faces capture multiple emotional states caught between contemplation and confrontation, punctuated by a pattern of vibrant vertical lines of varied widths that mimic a barcode.”

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.11.23

June 11, 2023 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

The 66th Annual Puerto Rican Parade will loudly, buoyantly, exuberantly traverse and sway along the iconic 5th Avenue in Manhattan today. Subsequently, numerous Brooklyn neighborhoods will burst into a party with lively street festivities and impromptu fiestas adorning sidewalks, sitting on stoops, and hanging out on window ledges. A collective joy and relief are in our hearts across the city this weekend, stemming from the restoration of clear air in the city; after a disheartening episode of a Dystopian Orange haze that tainted our skies for days this week.

Forest fires in Canada had blown smoke down the Hudson River to surprise everyone, and flummox many. The consequences forced people to illuminate their homes during daylight hours and drive their car with headlights on. This extraordinary event posed a threat to both the well-being and livelihoods of countless individuals, with people working outside at great danger. However, for those who turned to our local National Public Radio (NPR) station for insight, rather than talking about construction workers, municipal employees, or street food vendors, their primary concerns were remote work arrangements, ordering from Doordash, and worrying about the smoke’s effect on dogs during their daily walks. The poor and working class are routinely erased from public discourse, which is why unmediated street art often does the work.

Currently, the cityscape is adorned with captivating street art and mesmerizing murals, offering a wide array of entertainment, education, and aesthetic gratification. We hope you take pleasure in exploring photographer Jaime Rojo’s compilation.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Maya Hayuk, Below Key, Little Ricky, Mint & Serf, Billy Barnacles, Homesick, David Puck, Panic, IMK, Aidz, Robert Vargas, Salo Panto. Artistcjg89, Herman, Gabe, Tank, FLWR, and Sasha Colby.

David Puck’s tribute to Sasha Colby #transisbeautiful #pride2023 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hek Tad send Love to the Purto Rican community celebrating their culture and heritage today in NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Robert Vargas. “Heritage & Power”. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Memorial Wall. R.I.P. Johny & Anthony. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Maya Hayuk. Herman. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. East River, NYC. June 2023. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Money & Followers” Heralds the Thinking Artists on the Street in Turin

June 10, 2023 Artists

Turin, Italy remains a hotbed for free thought and experimental art in public spaces. Despite so many inroads toward capitalizing on the radical movement of street art in recent years, this part of Italy has been fertile soil for the ornery, complicated, political, and eclectic artistic impulses that first drew us to this scene. A summer show of street art veterans and more recent talents at the newly germinated NISBA Studio may be staking positions that have gotten lost in a scene sometimes awash with commercial brands and self-dealers. The studio calls itself an “observatory on contemporary society, a strategic place,” and says it is a venue and platform “within which connections are born between enthusiasts, visitors, collectors, companies, public and private administrators.”

Turin’s historical significance as a vital hub for Italian, European, and Egyptian art, including the influential Piedmontese Baroque art movement and its vibrant urban art scene, adds prestige to the city and perhaps gravitas to its opinion on the evolution of the street art scene. Its position in the development of the “urban art” scene across Europe has also had an impact, with names like Blu, Ericailcane, Alice Pasquini, Ozmo, and Lucamaleonte coming to mind.

ELFO. Money and Followers. Nisba Studio. Torino, Italy. (photo courtesy of Nisba Studio)

Using an ironic phrase that is a currency in the pinched views of a social media world, the exhibition “Money and Followers” is mounted in an inclusive space with no political affiliation, say organizers, welcoming all. The show features new works by Sten Lex, the renowned Roman duo who pioneered an innovative “halftone” stencil art. At the same time, Sam3 captivates with visually striking, black anthropomorphic figures that convey a fantastical vision. Elfo, representing an Italian avant-garde in graffiti and urban art, presents his on-point technically low-fi cultural lambast. Gec explores participatory public art and societal themes through web-based production, while BR1’s impactful posters delve into tackle themes of integration, identity, migration, and globalization.

BR1. Money and Followers. Nisba Studio. Torino, Italy. (photo courtesy of Nisba Studio)

SAM3. Money and Followers. Nisba Studio. Torino, Italy. (photo courtesy of Nisba Studio)

SABATO 10 e DOMENICA 11 GIUGNO 2023
DALLE ORE 14 ALLE 20
NISBA STUDIO
Via Po 25 (interno cortile)
Torino

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Photos of BSA 2025 # 8
December 27, 2025
“When I watch people holding their smartphones, I often ask myself: are they holding their phones because they want to, …Read More »
Photos of BSA 2025 # 9
December 26, 2025
This was the year that rappelling from high places tipped the balance in New York graffiti. No matter the style …Read More »
Merry Christmas 2025 From BSA
December 25, 2025
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family …Read More »