Photo of Audrey Hepburn mural at Caffe Roma by EricFoo (CC BY 2.0)
New York is home to some of the greatest sights and tourist attractions in the country. While there’s plenty to see, the local art scene is definitely something that should be on your list. The beauty of New York is that you don’t have to go to a museum or exhibit to see art. In New York City you can simply walk down the street. While some may see street art as vandalism, others will see it as a great way to express creativity. Whatever side you’re on, you can’t deny that the following pieces aren’t impressive.
1. 100 Gates Project
This mural is located in the Lower East Side and consists of a variety of different businesses participating in a project which allows a number of talented artists to decorate their storefront gates with art. So far, about 75 different pieces of art have gone up that run the gamut in terms of color and style. This not only gives the businesses a sweet way to add some character to their location, but it also allows artists a place to legally show off their work. We recommend checking out a mural recreated by Damien Mitchell for Michele Olivieri at 88 Delancey St (Orchard).
2. Colorful Wall in Dumbo
Sometimes, street art doesn’t have to be extremely abstract and strange. In fact, just simply adding some bright and vibrant color to a wall (along with a few drawings at certain points) is just as impressive. That is exactly what a handful of artists decided to do to a large wall in Dumbo. This wall is plastered with a “rainbow-like” color pattern that is very appealing and just makes you happy. In addition to that vibrant color, there are also a few traditional pieces of art along the wall that add some personality, such as the famous colorful owls.
3. Bronx Wall of Fame
While the “Wall of Fame” isn’t an officially supported title, there is no doubting that this beautiful wall in south Bronx is legendary in the NYC street art scene. Over the years, this wall has become home to the work of both world-renowned artists and those who no one knows about. The wall is home to a wide variety of different styles of art, which each hold their own unique message or meaning.
4. Goddess Wall
The fact that artists Jeremy Penn and Lambros were able to get such a realistic face on the side of a wall is breathtaking. This piece is located in a fairly unassuming spot on Mott and Houston St. and provides some much needed personality to the street. This project was only created a few months ago and is already one of the most legendary pieces in the area. The two artists used their own unique styles and combined the two, which resulted in this artistic creation.
5. Bowery Graffiti Wall
This wall has one of the oldest histories of any of the murals on this list. Keith Haring first added art to this wall back in 1982 and ever since then, it has been a famous place for artists to visit and add their own work. A ton of famous and successful artists have been invited to come work on the walls and have rotated murals over the years. This is also a great blend of street and showcase as it is great, professional quality work, right there on the street. Right now, the wall displays a stunning piece from artist Logan Hicks named “Story of My Life,” which captures a street scene in Soho of his friends.
6. Graffiti Hall of Fame
If you are going through East Harlem, this is absolutely one place that you need to check out. This “Hall of Fame” was first founded back in 1980 by “Sting Ray” Rodriguez, who saw it as a place for people to express themselves in an artistic and creative manner. The idea blew up and more than a few decades later, hundreds of people have contributed to the Hall of Fame. New pieces are painted over the old artwork every year in an event, so every time you visit the wall, it may be different than the last.
7. The Bushwick Collective
This is among the most recent murals and collections in this article, as it was just started a few years ago in 2012. In that year, Bushwick native Joseph Ficalora was seeking some inspiration and an escape after both his father and mother passed away in 1991 and 2011 respectively. He decided to invite his friends to come and cover walls on the block in graffiti, and soon enough, it became a popular destination. A number of talented artists have (and still continue to) create artwork on the wall that has brightened up a sometimes dark neighborhood.
8. Audubon Mural Project
This project is more than simply a nice piece of art. This project takes place throughout Upper Manhattan and is dedicated to the large number of birds that are currently threatened and affected by climate change. The fact that this art is also raising awareness for a good cause in addition to looking great, makes it even cooler. Birds are often forgotten about in comparison to other animals like whales, dolphins, and elephants, and this mural project helps bring them back to the forefront.
9. Tuff City Tattoo Shop
While there is always a ton of beautiful artwork being created inside tattoo shops, this one is different. In addition to the talented artists working within the shop, there have also been dozens (even hundreds), that have worked on the outside of the building. This has been a destination for graffiti artists since 2007 and there is numerous beautiful pieces, but the piece de resistance is the 45-foot subway car.
10. Audrey Hepburn at Caffe Roma
This little piece resides in Little Italy and is simply one of the best and most unique pieces of work you’ll find in the Big Apple. The artist, Tristan Eaton, decided to go for a black and white portrait of the famous actress, but then added some abstract designs and colors in, which truly make it a one of a kind. The abstract colors and designs (on a white background), really make the work pop on the red-brick building and gives visitors to Caffe Roma a visual treat.
