In different corners of New York you can find murals and graffiti made by world-renowned artists or by someone who carries so much history in their paintings that they have been part of an entire social movement. Some of these pieces of art are haunted by fans and many of them have come to be valued in millions of dollars, which is why there are those who are looking to get something beyond a photo and want to take, literally, a piece of such art works.
If you are one of those who like to appreciate this type of street art, below we will introduce you to some of the neighborhoods with the most representative graffiti in the city. Although it is worth mentioning that some of them have been covered with new art and are now only a memory.
Bushwick, Brooklyn
On the streets of Brooklyn, a destination that you must visit when you go to the Big Apple – you can also enjoy it during a NYC Christmas Lights Tour in Dyker Heights Brooklyn -, you will find what has been listed as the best in urban art.
Bushwick is a neighborhood that does not get a lot of attention due to its appearance, because at first glance it seems to be a neglected neighborhood as it is one of the most humble ones in the city, however it is a place with art everywhere since it has an art collective that have arranged an open-air gallery where different exponents are invited to fill the streets with color and life, thus the neighborhood leaves that old appearance to become a great museum where, year after year, the most amazing murals are painted.
We invite you to take a tour from Starr St. to Troutman St. through Irving Ave. To Cypress Ave, in this perimeter you will find a large network of graffiti that will leave you with your mouth open. Or, take a tour through New York to see all the contrasts that this city owns.
Little Italy
Today Little Italy is turning from a small neighborhood in to a city with the help of THE L.I.S.A PROJECT, an art collective supported by anonymous donors, which started a while ago on Mulberry St. with small pieces of art arranged to decorate the streets, today such value has been added to these artistic pieces that The LISA Project has expanded to the point of turning the place into the Mural District. You can meet this works and their exact location in thelisaproject.nyc
Lower East Side, Manhattan
In this neighborhood, close to 100 doors and commercial showcases have been intervened, with the support and approval of the owners of the commercial premises, the project is called 100 Gates Project and you can see them at 100gatesnyc.com, review them and take the time to visit one of the most ornate streets in the city. Besides, during the last month of the year, this street brightens and it turns out to be amazing to make it part of a New York Christmas Lights Tour in Dyker Heights.
The Bronx
In this case we do not want to name a single neighborhood, as the Bronx in general is a district full of art and is recognized throughout the world for that same reason. Here is an artistic piece that is the most popular among all its offerings, it is the Wall of Fame which comprises much of the history of NYC’s street art and features works made by world-class artists.
Hurry to visit this mural and the district in general because, as a result of the new urban projects, part of these works will be forgotten. They will only be captured in photographs and will give way to new works; the Wall of Fame is located on E173rd St. and West Farms Rd.
Another place that will not stop dazzling with color is the facade of the Tuff City Tattoos, as each of its exterior walls are canvas for invited graffiti artists; find it at 650 Fordham Rd. on Belmont Ave.
It does not matter which direction you are heading, the destination you have between plans or the means of transportation you decide to use, when you walk through the streets of New York you will come across art everywhere, because hundreds of artists, some recognized and others who are not, have taken the time to create art that engages and tells a story. Being part of an excursion of contrasts in New York will make it easier for you to see many of these works up close, but if you decide to visit each district by yourself, the 4 places mentioned in this article are some of those that you cannot leave out.
Fill your social networks with color and invite more people to join in to see this wave of street art that stopped being vandalism to become a complete and valuable art piece.
