Made in Manhattan
The L.I.S.A. Project + Friends
Content and images by: Caressa Losier
Street art in Manhattan is ever-changing like the weather; that’s only part of what makes this art scene so incredibly exciting. Where else can you witness sidewalk murals beneath your feet and gigantic skyscraper murals towering over you? In the 1980s, Jean-Michel Basquiat used the Lower East Side as his canvas, completely shifting attitudes about street art in Manhattan. Decades later, public art initiatives like The L.I.S.A. Project, East Village Walls and the 100 Gates Project, continue to beautify this treasured NYC destination.
We’ve scoured the city and handpicked some of the best street art in Manhattan, just for you. Continue below for a run-down of the most exciting NYC murals!
Muck Rock and The Dr!f
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
In celebration of the Rest in Power: Trayvon Martin Story, this Trayvon super memorial mural was created by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh in collaboration with Liberated Peoples and with a little assistance from Jess X Snow. In the mural, Trayvon has his hood up and is at peace in a scenery of beautiful flowers and petals.
Danielle Mastrion
Dee Dee Was Here
Chris Pyrate
Chris Pyrate is the talented artist responsible for Not Enough Marge, a mural created for the historical Carmine Street Comics in West Village.
Pixel Pancho
Michel Velt, Loomit & BERT MTA
Who the hell is Diedeldaantjer (Diesel Danger)? Michel Velt, Loomit and Bert MTA collaborated on this mysterious East Village Walls mural located in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood.
Eduardo Kobra
Eduardo Kobra is hard at work in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay Area, creating a mural to celebrate the heroic firefighter captured in an iconic image taken during the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy.
>>See More Eduardo Kobra Street Art
OSGEMEOS
Jerkface
Is it Homer Simpson or Spongebob Squarepants? Jerkface’s Homerbob mural directly above Stanton Street’s The Meatball Shop, is a combination of our favorite fluffy and yellow cartoon characters. Before street art in Manhattan gave HomerBob his cameo, the character was featured in a Jerkface mural in the Bushwick street art scene.
>>See More Jerkface Street Art
DFace
Tribute to Basquiat by Al Diaz
Over 30 years ago, street art in Manhattan was introduced to Jean-Michel Basquiat and Al Diaz through SAMO – a witty, street art phenomenon on the Lower East Side. When they departed, Basquiat emerged into one of the greatest artists of our time. On August 12, 1988, Basquiat died of a heroin overdose and his body was found here (photo above) in his former studio at 57 Great Jones St. On the anniversary of his death, his buddy, Al Diaz, painted this memorial mural that reads, “I didn’t sign up to be used as a face 4 selling brand named crap!”
JPS
Fumeroism
>>See More Fumeroism Street Art
Sonni
Nick Walker
Zimad
Meet Basquiat’s friendly rival, Rammellzee. This Far Rockaway native was a 1908s visionary commonly known for his theory Ikonoklast Panzerism and several of his creative contributions to Hip Hop culture. Rammellzee spent a majority of his adult life at his Battery Park City loft, which he named “The Battlestation”.
>>See Rammellzee: Racing for Thunder exhibition
Sony Sundancer
Vanessa Powers
Gemma Gené
Happier by Gemma Gené sets the tone for an outrageously bright and upbeat music video for Marshmellow and Bastille’s song “Happier”. See the full video below!
Buff Monster
World Trade Center Mural Project
When Silverstein Properties grew tired of their view of bulky metal and concrete, they invited several artists to the Financial District to beautify the neighborhood. Next time you visit, remember those who have lost their lives during the September 11th tragedy and feed your mind with vibrant murals – to cheer you up.
Ben Angotti
Riiisa Boogie
Stickymonger
Alice Mizrachi
Caution, wet paint! Alice Mizrachi unveils her latest NYC mural at the World Trade Center Mural Project.