Faust

Introducing the general public to an eclectic range of outstanding street artists from across the globe while boosting the development of the local street art scene, the third Russian biennale Artmossphere is now near completion. A particular highlight of this year’s Artmossphere was Shepard Fairey’s huge outdoor mural, Tunnel Vision, inspired by the bold aesthetics of Russian Constructivism. Several more images — representative of the wonderfully diverse artwork that made its way into Artmossphere 2018 — follow:

Shepard Fairey at work earlier on with a little help from his friends

Amsterdam-based Adele Renault at work on one of her signature birds with the legendary Martha Cooper capturing it all

Brooklyn-based assemblage artist Hyland Mather at work as he repurposes discarded materials into an intriguing installation

Swedish graphic designer Finsta’s completed installation

NYC’s masterful FAUST

Berlin’s 1Up Crew’s installation”Burner Phones”

Photo credits: Vasiliy Kudryavtsev

Note: Hailed in a range of media from WideWalls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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This past weekend, the now-abandoned Essex Street Market at 140 Essex was the site of Market Surplus, an exhibit featuring ten huge striking murals in a range of styles — from meticulously rendered photorealistic to brightly colored expressionistic. Largely site-specific, they were the perfect homage to a soon-to-be-demolished historic Lower East Side building.  While visiting late Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to pose a few questions to its curator, Adam Lucas aka Hanksy.

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This is quite impressive. When did you begin working on it?

It all started a week and a half ago.

That’s quite remarkable. It must have been quite an intense week and a half! What moved you to curate it? 

Essex Crossing has been committed from early on to bringing public art projects to this neighborhood. Awhile back, they tapped me to help them accomplish this. When they offered me this building as a site for this exhibit, I took the opportunity to curate Market Surplus.

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It seems like so much effort for a weekend event. It’s wonderful, but I wish it weren’t over so quickly!

Large murals like these generally have long lives.  But I actually like the twist on permanence. Bringing these kinds of murals indoors for this transitory exhibit turns the notion of permanence on its head.

How did you decide which artists to engage?

I reached out to artists I know and like — who were in town. And some of the artists recommended other artists.

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There are quite a few references to the neighborhood in these works.

Yes. Among them is NDA‘s painting of Luis and his son Felix of the Luis Meat Market that is housed at the Essex Street Market.  A key mission of the exhibit was capturing the spirit of the Lower East Side.

I love the variety of styles and sensibilities featured here. Each is distinctly wonderful!

My intention was to present a range of styles. That was one of my criteria in selecting artists.

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With Market Surplus behind you and now part of the history of the Lower East Side, what is next?

In two weeks, my work will be featured in a pop-up show at the Krause Gallery here on the Lower East Side. Later in the summer I will be painting a mural for the L.I.S.A Project. And there is much more to come!

It sounds great! And congratulations on this weekend’s exhibit.

Images

1. NDA

2. Adam Lucas aka Hanksy

3. Sonni

4. Faust

5. BK Foxx

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3 & 5 Lois Stavsky; 4 Karin du Maire; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky

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CHEUNG-CHI-WAI-HKwalls-Okuda

A celebration of street art and creative collaboration, HKwalls 2017 will take place in the industrial district of Wong Chuk Hang from March 18 to March 26. Since its launch in 2014, HKwalls has actively engaged the public, while providing opportunities for artists to showcase and share their talents — as they bring intrigue and color to Hong Kong’s streets. The images featured here (1-9) were painted during HKwalls Street Art Festival 2016.

Madrid-based Okuda

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Malaysian artist Dmojo at work

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Japanese artist Suiko

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Manila-based Egg Fiasco

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Singapore-based Clogtwo

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Taiwanese artist Colasa at work

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Italian artist Peeta 

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NYC-based Faust and London native Roid

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Among the artists to be featured in HKwalls 2017 are: Zoer, Amuse, Merlot, Snik, Mauy Cola and Swoon, who several weeks ago visited Hong Kong and wheat pasted an entire tram — a collaboration among HKwalls, Hoca Foundation and Hong Kong Tramways — for HKwalls 2017.

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During the nine days of HKwalls 2017, there will also be other activities — including a print exhibition featuring the artists’ works and a closing block party on March 26th. Among HKwalls‘ partners are: Vans, eico paints, MTN and Eggshell Stickers.

Photo credits: 1, 2 & 7 Cheung Chi Wau; 3, 5 & 6 Cheung Wai Lok; 4 Kyra Campbell and 8-10, courtesy HKwalls

Note: Hailed in a range of media from Wide Walls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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On view at the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery in Havorford Pa. is ALL BIG LETTERS, curated by Vandalog editor RJ Rushmore. In his “attempt to demystify graffiti,” RJ focuses on the tools and strategies of writers – rather merely on their styles. And he succeeds brilliantly. What follows are several images from the exhibit, largely illustrative of the various tools and strategies employed by writers in their quest to attain recognition. Pictured above is a huge wall painted by Faust who initially made his mark on our streets with hundreds of stickers featuring his exquisite handwriting.

Curve, an installation featuring his writing on a range of found materials

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Lee Quinones, Howard the Duck

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Martha Cooper, photography; below — a range of tools of the trade — both homemade and commercial 

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EKG, The Tools of Graffiti 

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A sampling of stickers from DB Burkeman’s stuckupofficial collection

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And accompanying the exhibit is a catalog with an outstanding selection of images, accompanied by insightful essays by both RJ and Carlo McCormick. Located on the campus of Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Avenue, the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery is about a 30-minute ride from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. ALL BIG LETTERS can be seen through March 3.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Connecting artists and businesses, the 100 Gates public art project continues to transform dozens of metal store shutters on the Lower East Side and in Chinatown into intriguing outdoor canvases.  What follows are just a few:

Mas Paz, X Cubicle, 25 Essex Street

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Damien Mitchell, Michele Olivieri, 118 Orchard Street

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Billy the Artist, Michele Olivieri, 88 Delancey Street

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Ida Noelle, The Sill @ 84 Hester Street

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Abigail Kaage, Zest, 249 Broome Street

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Claw Money & Miss 17Red Mango, 145 Allen Street

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Faust and Shantell Martin, Lowline Lab/EDC Warehouse, 140 Essex Street

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Jessica DeutchLucky Jack’s, 129 Orchard Street

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Buff MonsterBondy Export Corp, 40 Canal Street

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Founded by NYC artist and professional skater Billy Rohan, this public art project is managed by Natalie Raben, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. If you own a business on the Lower East Side and would like to become involved with 100 Gates, check this out.

Photos: 1, 2, 5-9 Tara Murray; 3, 4 Lois Stavsky

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This is the fourth in a series of occasional posts showcasing sticker art that surfaces on an array of NYC public surfaces:

Screwtape’s homage to Army of One

Screwtape

Skullphone goes small

Skullphone

One of Kosby‘s many musings

Kosby

Fling’s curious creature

Fling

RAE’s lovable, zany character

RAE

Faust‘s calligraphic handstyle

Faust

Milwaukee-based RealAbstract‘s magnetic sticker

"Real Abstract"

CB 23’s now-iconic character in the rain

"CB 23"

Zato’s much-loved fellow

Zato

And for those stickerheads who’d like to participate in the upcoming Sticker Nerds 3, organized by the inimitable Skam Sticker, the deadline to get your slaps in is this Friday, March, 14th.  Send them to Sticker Nerds 3, Post Office Box 13492, Portland, Oregon 97213.

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Photos of NYC sticker art by Lenny Collado, Dani Reyes Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

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This is the third in an occasional series of artwork on NYC shutters by both local artists and those visiting from abroad:

Phlegm — in from Sheffield, UK — in the East Village

Phlegm

Brooklyn-based Never in Astoria, Queens

Never street art

NYC-based Faust’s tribute to Sure RIP in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Faust graffiti

Meres at 5Pointz in Long Island City, Queens

Meres

Germany’s Most and Flying Fortress at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

Most and Flying Fortress

NYC’s Ozbe at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

Ozbe

Veteran artist Kenny Scharf on the Lower East Side

Kenny Scharf

Grad of Smart Crew in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Smart Crew

The legendary Tracy168 at West Farms in the Bronx

Tracy168

Photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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