Portugal

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The gifted Portuguese artist Frederico Draw, along with his talented Colectivo RUA partner Contra, visited NYC last month. With the support of Spread Art NYC, they graced Bushwick’s Troutman and Knickerbocker with an elegant mural dedicated the late Puerto Rican poet and activist Julia de Burgos. While the artists were in town, I had the opportunity to speak to them. A brief interview with Porto-based Frederico Draw follows:

When and where did you first get up?

I started tagging with my friends back home in the town of Freamunde in 2001.

What inspired you at the time?

The New York City hip-hop culture that I followed was my main inspiration back then.

Do any early graffiti-related memories stand out?

I was about 12 or 13 on a trip to the beach in Algarve with my family when I saw massive amounts of graffiti for the first time. I was astounded.

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How did your family feel about your engagement with the graffiti culture?

They were very supportive. They taught me to do it responsibly. There are many artists – painters and architects — in my family.

Have you any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

I don’t feel it much.  There isn’t much of a divide in Porto. Most street artists do graffiti and respect it.

Do you have a formal art education?

I earned a Masters in architecture in Porto, but I never studied fine arts.  I had expected to be an architect; but when I started painting on the streets, my entire lifestyle changed.

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What percentage of your time is devoted to art?

All of it!

How do you feel about the engagement of the corporate world with graffiti writers and street artists?

It helps us artists live. But we need to work together; the relationship must be consensual, not exploitative.

Have you shown your work in galleries?  

Yes! I’ve exhibited in Portugal — principally in Porto — and I’ve had two exhibits in Italy.

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And what about festivals? Have you participated in any street art festivals?

I’ve participated in street art festivals in Portugal, Italy and Spain.

Here in NYC you are collaborating with Contra. Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?

I love both.  When working with others, I can exchange ideas.

Is there any particular street artist out there – with whom you’d like to collaborate?

I’d like to collaborate with Retna.

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What about crews? Do you paint with any crews?

I’m a member of Colectivo RUA. We are a group of artists based in Porto.

Do you work with a sketch in hand or do you let it flow?

I often work with a sketch.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished work?

I usually am.

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How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all of this?

It helps me get my work out. But I see it as my responsibility to get my artwork onto social media.

What inspires you these days?

Life…the environment…classical art…street art. I’m a huge fan of Borando.

What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

To raise awareness. It is the role of the artist to direct others to think about issues that matter.

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And why have you chosen the streets as your principal canvas?

Because the streets allow me to reach and engage many more people than I would otherwise.

Images

1 Julia de Burgos, Bushwick, 2017

2 Frederico Draw & Contra at work in Bushwick, 2017

3 An.fi.tri.ão, Porto, 2015

4 APAV with Contra, Lisbon, 2015

5 VELHOS SÃO OS TRAPOS with Senior University for VOLTAGEM and Fundação EDP, Alfândega da Fé, 2016

6 EQUILÍBRIO with Contra, São Mamede, 2017

7  SOUR VIRGIN with Contra, Naples, 2016

Photo credits: 1 Karin du Maire 2 Tara Murray 3-7 courtesy of the artist; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky

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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A fantastical wonderland, Bairro Padre Cruz is testament to the power of urban art to transform and beautify an everyday neighborhood. This past spring, the Muro Urban Art Festival, organized in partnership with Galeria de Arte Urbana, graced the district with dozens of huge magical murals, along with smaller artworks, by both local and international artists. Pictured above is by Miguel RAM. Here are several more images I captured:

Borondo

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TelmoMiel

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Mr Dheo

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Spok Brillor

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André NADA

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Daniel Eime

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2CarryOn

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 Photos by Lois Stavsky

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

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A charming, vibrant coastal city north of Lisbon, Porto boasts a dizzying array of enchanting street art, including many relatively small-scale works. Pictured above is by Porto-based duo Chei Krew. Here are several more:

Hazul

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Costah

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 Hugo Sousa

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Godmess

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David Pintor

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Brooklyn native Justin Phame & Rio de Janeiro native Bella Amaral, currently based in Porto

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Photo credits: 1-6 Lois Stavsky, 7 courtesy Justin Phame

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

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Situated in Sacavém, Loures, Quinta do Mocho is home to an urban social project from the municipality of Loures. This project started with the festival o bairro I o munro and has since graced dozens of stark buildings with stunning murals by both local and international artists. Pictured above is the work of Brazilian artist L7m. Here are several more images captured:

Odeith

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Vhils

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Nomen

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Ricardo Romero

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Oze Arv

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Violant

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Photos by Lois Stavsky

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

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Facilitated by the Galeria de Arte Urbana, or Gallery of Urban Art, a long wall surrounding Lisbon’s Julio de Matos Psychiatric Hospital has evolved into an intriguing open-air gallery, showcasing a range of expressive faces.  Pictured above is by Portugese artist Drawing Jesus. Here are several more images captured from this wall that stretches over half a mile:

Also by Drawing Jesus

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Francisco Camilo

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 Trafic

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 Ayako

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Robo

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Brazilian artist Vanessa Rosa

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Photo credits: 1 – 4, 6 & 7 Lois Stavsky; 5 Sara C Mozeson

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A renovated industrial complex that how houses some of Lisbon’s coolest shops, design firms and restaurants, the FX Factory is also home to an eclectic collection of first-rate street art. Pictured above is a bee fashioned by Bordalo II from discarded objects. Bordalo II has the following to say about his work: …I belong to a generation that is extremely consumerist, materialist and greedy. With the production of things at its highest, the production of “waste” and unused objects is also at its highest. “Waste” is quoted because of its abstract definition: “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.  I create, recreate, assemble and develop ideas with end-of-life material and try to relate it to sustainability, ecological and social awareness.

Here are several other artworks I saw last week while visiting the FX Factory:

Miguel RAM

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French artists Noty & Aroz

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Mário Belém, close-up from huge mural

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Mariana Dias Coutinho, close-up

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MaisMenos, one of his “streetments”

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Photos by Lois Stavsky

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The following post is by Houda Lazrak, a contributor to StreetArtNYC and an M.A. candidate in Museum Studies at NYU.

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Founded in 2010, Underdogs is a Lisbon-based gallery and cultural platform that offers unprecedented visibility to public art in Portugal’s capital city. Here are a few images I captured while on the tour offered by Underdogs, an integral part of its public art program:

Portuguese artist Vhils and Italian artist Pixel Pancho   

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Brazilian twins Os Gemeos; Italian artist Blu on detail on right

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Polish artist Sainer of the Etam Cru

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Brazilian artist Nunca

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West Coast-based Cyrclesegment of larger mural

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NYC-based European artists How & Nosm, large segment of huge mural

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All photos by Houda Lazrak

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