All posts tagged: Miki Mu

BSA Images Of The Week: 03.02.25

March 2, 2025 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week and to the madness of March. Also, we extend warm wishes to our Muslim brothers and sisters for a peaceful and blessed Ramadan.

If it’s not dicks, it’s birds—either way, graffiti artists keep finding new ways to ruffle feathers and raise eyebrows. Not sure who Waldorf is, but it looks like he has freed himself on the roof top of a school in Berlin – big enough to make Google Maps blush apparently. In Melbourne, a 21 year old man found guilty of 50 times painting his “Pam the Bird” graffiti has been a sensation in the news there, finally ending with his release from police to live with his grandmother in Geelong, who has warned it is “my house, my rules”.

Closer to home, the NYC Mayoral stew continues to bubble and boil, with our current Mayor Adams pulling out of this week’s debate at the last minute. Yesterday, the previous state Governor, Andrew Cuomo, threw his hat into the ring for the race after being drummed out of the governorship in August 2021 following accusations of sexual harassment from multiple women. With Robin Hood’s newly released report saying that there is a 25% Overall Poverty Rate in New York City, many hope the next mayor focuses on tackling the city’s deepening economic crisis.

Finally, in what feels like another chapter of America: The Farewell Tour, the President and Vice President delivered a masterclass in diplomatic self-sabotage on Friday. The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said ‘the free world needs a new leader’ and that it was up to Europeans to take this challenge. The reaction on Twitter/X has been swift and voluminous—disgust, condemnation, praise, and fresh declarations that the global order is tilting yet further away from a U.S.-led unipolar world. Others say that one shouldn’t give Trump that much credit.

In week number five of the new administration, Freelance temp consultant Elon Musk keeps dismantling the administrative state, eroding the barriers between citizens and autocracy. There is no word yet on lowering inflation so you may need that second or third job . Also, granny (or mom) may be moving in!

Meanwhile, here’s our interview with the streets this week, including City Kitty, Homesick, Eye Sticker, Miki Mu, JEMZ, Steve the Bum, NYC Kush Co, Quaker Pirate, DARA, ROS, and Man in the Box.

Eye Sticker elicits different opinions about Lugi on the streets of NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Man In The Box. Work in progress. Originally taken from a still image of Taylor Armstrong, best known from *The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills*, messily eating spaghetti, this is an absurdist meme that mimics the glut of low-value filler calling itself news and entertainment. Is she shoveling it in or expelling it out? After seeing the stickers all over NYC we are excited to see the completed mural soon. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

We can read the artist’s signature on this piece. Let’s know if you can. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Rest in Peace Mom”, from HOMESICK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Rescue Me!” Quaker Pirate (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. March 2025. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 12.01.24

December 1, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

December has arrived, and with it, a fresh blanket of snow setting the holiday scene up north—perfect for some, but for us, it’s a sign to head south. Art Basel Miami Beach is calling, and the Wynwood District is already buzzing with street artists and weird, wired, and abundant creative energy. It’s shaping up to be another epic graffiti/street art family reunion.

If you’re in Miami, come say hi! We’ll be at the Museum of Graffiti on Tuesday for the launch of the new STRAAT Museum catalog straight out of Amsterdam. Joining us are the directors of both museums and artists from the STRAAT collection—including one repping Miami. It’s a rare honor to be among the creators, archivists, and storytellers who are not just making art but protecting its legacy.

As we introduce these two vibrant young museums to one another, we can’t help but feel excited about the collaborations and connections that might emerge. See you there!

Check out details about Tuesday’s event and reserve your spot:
BSA Leads STRAAT Catalog Launch Event at Museum of Graffiti in Miami Dec 3

Here’s our weekly conversation with the street, this week in New York and Berlin, featuring: Miki Mu, CMYK Dots, Fruity, AERA, CAZL, How to Kill a Graffiti, EIG!, Quo Vadis Art, BEAT, AMIR, Matthias Gephart, Mr. Ent, Andres Reventolv, Lucille, and Ordinario.

Unidentified artist in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Lucille. Fruity in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

CMYK DOTS in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

How To Kill a Graffiti at Urban Spree in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Quo Vadis Art at Urban Spree in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Matthias Gephart at Urban Spree in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anders Reventolv at Urban Spree in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ordinario at Urban Spree in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 07.14.24

July 14, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

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Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Remember the heyday of street art lists? People are still compiling them. From top 10 cities in the US for Street Art, to tourist-tilted lists of Street Art Destinations, to the Best street art experiences for 2024. The muscle behind most of the big events these days is a value-driven investment by city councils, branding opportunities for corporations or thinly-veiled vehicles for private gallerists to champion artists on their roster.

The more organic works, the less decorative murals can be found in community-organized campaigns. The free-form, unbridled, un-bossed, and un-bought spirit of organic street art survives, and it often takes chances politically or stylistically. Presented without handlers, communicating directly to you, it may be vexing, thrilling, educational, inspirational, or miss the mark. It’s all there and probably in your city – if you keep your eyes and ears open.

Here is our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring City Kitty, Homesick, Sara Lynne-Leo, Muebon, Miki Mu, Cody James, Humble, Underhill Walls, Manuel Alejandro, Mihfofa, Brittney Sprice, Cuadrosa, Felipe Umbral, and Hello the Mushroom.

City Kitty collaboration with Hello The Mushroom. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Subway art. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

BSA Images Of The Week: 07.07.24

July 7, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

It’s a long hot, steamy, jungle-like holiday weekend in New York. The city marked Independence Day with fireworks on the Hudson River, barbecues in the park, speeches to honor the day, and tanning on Brighton Beach and screaming on the rollercoaster at Coney Island. New York, no matter where you go on the street, always feels full of possibilities.

Possible robberies, that is! “New York is back, baby,” says a commenter on Reddit, discussing people getting robbed of luxury watches while sitting outside on the sidewalk and having cocktails in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. At least the New York Times didn’t say ‘eatery’ in their latest article provoking class hatred; we hate it when they do that. It’s called a restaurant.

In addition, Williamsburg did not just suddenly sprout some crime. Ask graffiti writers like KET who grew up there in the 1970s and gangs ran the streets. When the artists moved into Williamsburg at the turn of the century, a serial killer was living under the bridge. Danger may be a matter of one’s perception, we opine. Ask the folks chased out of the neighborhood by the violence of sky-high, unreachable rents, $40 entrees at restaurants, and women in sports bras jogging behind Dior baby strollers. Inquire about feelings of danger to the senior citizens joining the long food line on South 4th Street at Los Sures Food Pantry. It’s about a block away from the new MOXY hotel with the rooftop restaurant and bar and the enormous D*Face mural on the side.

In the category of BEEF, can we please stop the Kendrick/Drake beef? The “They Not Like Us” video dropped on Friday is compelling, true, and Kendrick is one of the best right now but beef is never good, in graffiti or rap or on TikTok or in the Middle East. We need voices of calm and reason and efforts to de-escalate. In other role model news elsewhere on the music spectrum, Ozzy Osborne delivers “Crack Cocaine” in his new video with Paris Jackson, featuring famed graffiti writer Kelly “RISK” Graval prominently wielding the cans on a street wall.

New York graffiti and street art persist and sometimes surprise, and occasionally, they have the last word. As usual, we’re keeping our eyes open.

Here is our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Dain, Toofly, Praxis, Mike Makatron, Eternal Possessions, Qzar, Timothy Goodman, Miki Mu, Warz, Tom Boy NYC, Red Half Tone, and Preacher Art.

Eternal Possessions (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Thank you for your love… (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Brooklyn, NYC. July 2024. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.02.24

June 2, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

How’s your summer been so far? Many people say that Memorial Day unofficially begins Summer, so this week was the first one. Indeed! Baseball, soccer, and kickball are in the park, and movies or cocktails are on the roof. Lifeguards are on the beach, and kids are throwing up on the Cyclone at Coney Island or throwing frisbees on Central Park grass. The air in some neighborhoods smells like lilac bushes, urine, french fries, marijuana, or aerosol paint. Or all of it at once. When it all swirls around you, it is a heady mix. Cute girls in short shorts and cute boys on skateboards may not fall in love given these circumstances, but they might!

This week, 45 was found guilty on 34 counts in court. We New Yorkers, who have known him for years, are unsurprised.

Here is our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Specter, Alice Pasquini, Degrupo, Optimo NYC, Enzo, Nite Owl, Miki Mu, NYC Kush Co., Klonism, Max Grax, Friz, KMG, Agent Decay, Jare, SYE5, Benny Cruz.

Specter. Yusuf Hawkins 1973-1989. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The first time artist Specter painted this memorial for Yusuf Hawkins in Brooklyn was in 2011. He’s restored it and added more to the environment of the mural, two times since then. This is the second restoration that he did in the past few weeks.

Unidentified artist with Jare and SYE5 tags. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

KMG. Hit The North Festival. 2018 Edition. Belfast, Northern Ireland. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Alice Pasquini. Hit The North Festival. 2018 Edition. Belfast, Northern Ireland. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

FRIZ. Hit The North Festival. 2023 Edition. Belfast, Northern Ireland. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Tulip. Spring 2024. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 10.29.23

October 29, 2023 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

New York is gripped with anxiety and demonstrations because of the Israeli attacks on Gaza that appear to violate International Law. No one is happy, and accusations fly in this most polarizing of international conflicts that threatens to spread – who knows where next. Friday night, a colossal demonstration overtook Grand Central Station and the streets around it by mostly Jews calling for a ceasefire, followed by an equally thunderous one across the Brooklyn Bridge. No one wants to talk about it, yet everyone is talking about it. May cooler heads prevail, and may children be spared our foolish wars.

The morning glories are still beaming blue and pink over fences on abandoned lots here, even as their tumbled vines and leaves turn yellow. The East Village Halloween Parade takes off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and people are already in costumes on the subway, in the bar, at the pumpkin stand. Street artists have naturally gravitated toward our cultural icons, real and fantasy, and they continue to bring them to walls and doorways and the occasional box truck or subway car. Hearts were warmed this week when a subway rat was caught on video in the tracks dragging a glazed donut a distance to share with his (girl?)friend. You see, even our rats are generous in spirit.

We reflect on Western society’s preoccupation with youth and what a dead end it is, as we spotted a quote this week from British author Donna Ashwork on social media. It makes sense when you look at the Rolling Stones, who played at Racket NYC with special guest Lady Gaga this week. Also we caught the Ed Ruscha show at MOMA this week. These artists are in their 70s and 80s, as are so many of the icons of the Boomer Generation. Somehow, they can be just as compelling as in their heyday sometimes, and its not because of their physical appearance. Anyway, enjoy this poem/quote:

“Don’t prioritise your looks, my friend,
they won’t last the journey.
Your sense of humour though, will only get better.
Your intuition will grow and expand like a majestic cloak of wisdom.
Your ability to choose your battles, will be fine-tuned to perfection.
Your capacity for stillness, for living in the moment, will blossom.
And your desire to live each and every moment will transcend all other wants.
Your instinct for knowing what (and who) is worth your time, will grow and flourish like ivy on a castle wall.
Don’t prioritise your looks my friend,
they will change forevermore,
that pursuit is one of much sadness and disappointment.
Prioritise the uniqueness that makes you you,

and the invisible magnet that draws in other like-minded souls to dance in your orbit.
These are the things which will only get better.“

Here is our weekly interview with the street: this week featuring Queen Andrea, Solus, Degrupo, Jerkface, Mike Makatron, Miki Mu, Home Sick, TomBoyNYC, Dirk Hiekel, Keon IVGN, Robles 147, Mistake Project, and Carlo Beley.

JerkFace updated his Mickey Mouse again. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Miki Mu evoking the spirit of Madonna (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Keon Ivgn does a portrait of Ms. Rosa Parks (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Fall 2023. Brooklyn, NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 10.22.23

October 22, 2023 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Sometimes, this frog feels like the water seems to be getting a little warm if you know what I mean. Our minds are being strained daily by a laundry list of stressors, not the least of which is neverending war. It is almost like it is profitable for industry. Also, it is surprising how many initiatives have been approved and passed during new periods of crisis ever since 9/11. Why does it seem like a new normal is introduced every two years? Meanwhile, the House is not in order, doesn’t even have a leader, 2 of the Orange man’s lawyers plead guilty this week, Biden’s giving 100 billion to Ukraine and Israel,

Meanwhile, people are still buying pumpkins this year for Halloween, the leaves are starting to turn yellow and orange, it is raining for the 7th weekend straight, and street artists and graffiti writers are keeping the streets alive from Grand Army Plaza to LES to Bushwick to Midwood to da Bronx. We have noticed several portraits and figurative works that ring true – and photographer Jaime Rojo shares some of them below.

So here’s our weekly interview with the street, this time featuring Calicho Art, David Puck, Mort Art, Le Crue, Andaluz the Artist, Humble, Miki Mu, Blanco, SEF, J. Novik, Hu, Carnivorous Flora, Mue Bon, Girlty, Manuel Alejandro, and Al Ruiz.

SEF portrait of Jean-Michel Basquiat for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Al Ruiz portrait of Maya Angelou for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Andaluz The Artist. *“Abuelita”* for The Bushwick Collective. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Manuel Alejandro for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Girlty for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mue Bon for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Calicho Art for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Carnivorous Flora for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Therapeutic Murals for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Humble for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Miki Mu quotes John Lennon for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Le Crue Eye for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mort for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bianco for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

J. Novik. Work in progress. Some artists are real lambs. Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. MTA. New York City. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.21.23

May 21, 2023 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week! So much to say, such brief attention spans. Looking around at the chattering masses on the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan this week, the excitement of beautiful weather and a sense of liberty sends youthful hearts aflutter. The gams! The biceps! The colorful plumage and sartorial flair all wend and weave down the street and subway steps past you, ahead of you, inside you. Also, check out the peonies and lilacs!

At the same time, in New York you may sometimes get a sinking feeling. Is it the blanding of culture, the systematic dismantling of our institutions, the fresh pile of dog poop you just stepped in? Maybe it is simply that the city is actually sinking 2-4 mm per year. Recent studies show that its not just rising sea-levels giving coastal cities a scare. Big heavy ones like NYC are sinking. As you consider this, train-surfing has a whole new meaning.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: City Kitty, Praxis VGZ, Little Ricky, The Postman Art, Homesick, Calicho Art, Cramcept, OH!, Kevin Caplicki, Toe Flop, Miki Mu, Tess Parker, Mr. Fou, El Cono, RatchiNYC, and AweOne.

City Kitty – Check out his new exhibition “Generations” with paintings by his grandfather and listen to an interview he did with his father on his latest podcast. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ART IS THE ONLY ESCAPE (photo © Jaime Rojo)

RatchiNYC. Cramcept (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Spring 2023. NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.02.23

April 2, 2023 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

64% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck, China and Russia are buddying up, BRICs countries are looking for new members, and the Bankers in your life are again looking toward their gilded escape bunkers.

We are transfixed by the first indicted US president, and gloating about having a system of democracy and justice. Now he is positioning himself as an “outsider,” a martyr. A billionaire outsider. We’re just waiting for these crowds outside Trump Tower to materialize. Where are they? Honestly, Fifth Avenue is more interested in the Easter Bonnet Parade that is coming.

But it’s a circus on the national tabloid news, which is unfortunately all of the news now. Our best minds are being entertained by 24 hour sports channels, Netflix and Tic Toc, and it’s not an accident. People are chided into fighting each other over trans-woke-snowflake-abortion-race-laptop-AR15-centered-drag-readings. Look! A squirrel!

Meanwhile, the daffodils are blooming everywhere in anticipation of Easter Week. People were cramming subways, buses, and sidewalks yesterday because of the warm sunny spring weather – and Smorgasborg opened this weekend in Brooklyn. NYTimes calls it “the Woodstock of eating,” due to its variety of incredible food choices – but of course, you can have just as much fun with a bag of chips or a slice of pizza sitting on a stoop watching the parade of New Yorkers march/sashay/stride by.

We had a great time at the Bronx Museum yesterday, catching the John Ahearn/ Rigoberto Torres retrospective and seeing both the artists in person during a panel discussion with artist Abigail DeVille – with fans rushing the stage for an autographed exhibition book afterward. These guys have championed everyday New Yorkers through their painted sculptures for four decades. It is revelatory and heartwarming to see this very large collection of works never shown together before. Make sure to check out “Swagger and Tenderness: The South Bronx Portraits” until April 30.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Stikman, Zimer, Subway Doodle, A Lucky Rabbit, Qzar, Optimo NYC, Sekt, AMMO, CEYNYC, Toeflop, Early Riser NYC, Julia Cocuzza, and Miki Mu.

Miki Mu for Underhill Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This might be the work of A Lucky Rabbit…not sure. We’re also not sure if the work has been completed. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

LL Cool J is Bad forever. Zimer NYC (photo © Jime Rojo)

CEYNYC lying down…not sure who did the buble…but sure it burns. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Memorial bench in Manhattan. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

In Memoriam: Don’t Fret
April 22, 2025
With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to the brilliant Don’t Fret. Cooper, the Chicago street artist known as “Don’t Fret,” …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 04.20.25
April 20, 2025
Welcome to BSA Images of the Week. Happy Easter, bunny. Great stuff is out on the streets today, whether you …Read More »
Layers of Legacy: POSE Brings Graffiti Roots to a Carousel in Schrager’s Garden
April 18, 2025
Jordan Nickel, better known as POSE, is a Chicago-born graffiti artist whose work fuses street culture, pop art, and comic …Read More »
Words Like Weapons: Jenny Holzer in the Streets and the Museum, In “Protest”
April 17, 2025
If you’ve ever been stopped in your tracks by a cryptic phrase pasted on a lamppost or beamed onto a …Read More »
Hi-Vis at 10: Buffalo AKG’s Public Art Program Moves Indoors
April 15, 2025
In the ever-evolving public and street art equation where boundaries between genres blur and definitions remain in flux, a notable …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 04.13.25
April 13, 2025
Welcome to BSA’s Images of the week. Chag Sameach to all who are celebrating Passover. The Hasidim in Brooklyn kicked …Read More »
Bicicleta Sem Freio: Rooted in Music, Drawing the Sound
April 10, 2025
New graphic works by Brazilian duo Bicicleta Sem Freio—Douglas de Castro and Renato Pereira—tap into a visual language shaped by …Read More »