“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
– Cesar A. Cruz
Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!
The fog of war obscures our vision, confuses our thoughts, and stirs fear and anger within us. Yet, we must not yield to despair as we navigate these unpredictable times. Within each of us lies a creative spirit eager to emerge. Around us are those who yearn for love and aid. Street artists, with their unusual practice of blending of persuasion and provocation, offer entertainment, encouragement, and discomfort. In such times, the artist’s voice becomes crucial, including your voice.
Here is our weekly interview with the street: this week featuring Jeremy Fish, Angurria, Mike King, Spaint, Tom Bob NYC, Jay Kaes, Whitney Holbourn, Dream Weavin, Art of Slim, Keru De Kolorz, Menas 24711, Memi Martinez, Face, and Brian Wooden.
Art Basel and Wynwood Walls was a buzzing hive of artistic and cultural activity, and this year’s event at Wynwood Walls was initiated by an invite-only party featuring the iconic British DJ, Fatboy Slim, who played an hour-long set in the open courtyard. Made very famous by his hits of the early late 90s/2000s, his legendary beach parties and appearance at music festivals lock crowds in the 10s of thousands into paroxysms of dancing ecstasy.
The event also marked unveiling the 2023 artist lineup and theme – “The Power of Purpose” by Wynwood Walls’ owner and real estate businessperson Jessica Goldman Srebnick. Among the notable artist attendees included Ron English, Dan Lam, London Police, Lauren YS, Mantra, Elle, Greg Mike, Anthony Reed, Sandra Chevrier, Kai Art, Allison Heuman, Leon Keer, Shok_1, Deferk, and the much-feted artist Lauren YS, who painted an enormous mural on the WW compound depicting a surrealist vision of the scope of LGBTIQ+ community, entitled “Say Gay”. The title references Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” initiative and legislation enacted in Florida, officially known as the “Parental Rights in Education” bill. Signed into law in March 2022, this legislation prohibits classroom instruction and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in certain grades in public schools.
Political or not, the compound and its wide selection of artistic styles still have their own energy, now primarily the energy of the family audience and the selfie, and it is good to see many street artists still making the pilgrimage.
“So I count 17, 18, 19, 20 people that are not from Miami,” Alan Ket observes as he scans the office tower at Biscayne and 1st Street, now an outstanding crown jewel in Miami’s graffiti scene. Emerging primarily at night during Art Basel week, this all-façade painted temple brought out an unprecedented mix of international and out-of-town graffiti writers and street artists. It’s a scene that could only unfold here, right now.
Is there more graffiti inside? “Yeah, there’s some,” Ket says. “You’d just find a spot with a broken window or something. You just would have to be really careful going in.”
Alongside Graffiti Museum Co-founder Allison Freidin, Ket gives us a rare tour from a unique set of perspectives trusted in the gallery and respected on the street – not an easy feat. Their insights bring to life a project that grew, almost mystically, in the light of day and under cover of night above Miami’s streets. This tower, despite its looming demolition that will make room for the next big development, stands tall in a city known for its explosion of graffiti and street art over the last two decades.
“Originally Atomic, with the oranges up there on top? He started in July,” Ket says, his descriptions echoing the precision of someone who’s lived and breathed the scene. “Then the word spread, and 1UP came with 004 just under the top,” he points, “then these guys filled in the bottom.” This collaboration is now a daily mind-blower, surpassing even the major Art Basel/Wynwood events without the nod from artworld gatekeepers. It happened right under their noses – and above their heads.
“Graffiti is stronger than you think,” 1UP states in their 3D-modeled deconstruction-reconstruction by video artist @yoshitravel on Instagram. This glitchy, gritty, post-apocalyptic Matterport-ish/drone tour of the power tower adds a sleek edge to an underground scene that follows its own codes and periodically shocks the cityscape in a colossal way.
The event drew graffiti artists from around the world and locally, like a family reunion. The displayed styles underscore the diversity in today’s global scene – drawing from influences as wide as your mind. The risk-taking inherent in graffiti culture is evident, with some pieces rappelled down the wall in a style more akin to Sao Paulo or Berlin. Others look half-finished, maybe left in haste to avoid getting busted. The building’s rough shape is clear, with its broken glass visible from afar. Yet, the dialogue between the artists is also evident – with collaborative overlaps and occasional overwrites, showcasing the community and competition that drives everyone to outdo each other, and sometimes, even to impress you.
Catch this massive installation before its final takedown this spring. To us, it’s a reminder of the raw talent and resourcefulness of graffiti writers and street artists worldwide. Yes, Art Basel Miami, the prestigious international art fair, plays a part in energizing the scene. But truth be told, graffiti culture has long been about self-made artists putting on a show, often internationally, long before the big names took notice. This global tower of power is proof of that relentless drive.
The New Year has been good so far, except if your country is in a war and is being pulverized.
We captured some exceptional street art during our visits to Miami last month. It’s encouraging to see that, despite commercial pressures, the artists’ untamed creative spirit continues to shine through. To balance the collection, we have dirty old New York pieces that pull no punches, and tell no truths, I mean lies. Happy to share these new and dynamic pieces with you.
Here is our weekly interview with the street: this week featuring Tats Cru. Homesick, Werds, Deih XLF, Melski, West, Dase, Banksy Hates Me, Wizard Skull, Johann Art, Arlex Campos, Professorx, d1a5, Salute, Urban Ruben, HITC, Heat, and Kane.
We’re pleased to continue positively into the new year by sharing a heartwarming journey into the world of family made street art, where personal ties and creativity intertwine beautifully. Contrary to the often-perceived image of the solitary graffiti writer or street artist, the French Tuco Wallach is a shining example of a family man whose art blossoms from his close-knit relationships.
In this new video and photos, you get an inside look at Tuco’s Christmas project, a venture that truly was a family collaboration- resonating with the spirit of the holidays. Each work is a nostalgic mix of memories and joy, featuring enchanting kitsune masks, intricate origami, bold stencils, and sparkling beads. Tuco Wallach merges the personal with the public in his work on the street, creating pieces that are not just visually captivating but also personal.
As we usher in the new year, it’s exhilarating to embrace a project that embodies a powerful message: “Raise the Level.” This initiative, resonating with the ethos of elevating our discourse on critical issues, reminds us that respectful, high-quality debate is not only possible but necessary. Steering clear of personal attacks, we all have the capability to engage constructively in meaningful conversations.
Shepard Fairey. Still from the movie. (image courtesy of Straat Museum)
In this spirit, we are thrilled to introduce the collaboration between STRAAT Museum and renowned artist and activist Shepard Fairey, in a project aptly named “Raise the Level.” This endeavor is brought to life through an extraordinary five-minute documentary that offers an intimate glimpse into Shepard Fairey’s creative process and his mission to use art as a catalyst for change.
The documentary, crafted by filmmaker Lidewij Hartog, follows Shepard Fairey during his visit to Amsterdam in August 2023. This visit marked a significant moment for Fairey, as he showcased his “Printed Matters: Raise the Level” exhibition at the STRAAT Gallery. But his contribution went beyond the gallery walls. Fairey left an indelible mark on the city by creating a monumental mural on the museum’s outdoor wall and adding a distinct artwork to the museum’s permanent collection.
Shepard Fairey. Still from the movie. (image courtesy of Straat Museum)
Shepard Fairey: Raise the Level – a short doc on Shepard Fairey in Amsterdam by Straat Muesum and Lidewij Hartog.
STRAAT Museum proudly presents “Shepard Fairey: Raise the Level.” This documentary not only captures the essence of Fairey’s artistic journey in Amsterdam but also delves into the motivations and aspirations driving his art. Join us in experiencing the impact of Shepard Fairey’s work and his ongoing dedication to using art as a medium to inspire societal change.
Shepard Fairey. Still from the movie. (image courtesy of Straat Museum)
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!
It’s not hard to get one group to hate another, especially when you use time-tested techniques employed by autocrats, advertisers, and PR firms. The “news” and social media platforms are seeded with their campaigns to turn us against one another and to question our own good judgment daily.
Many may have the idea that the US and the entire Western world are a polarized society about a host of hot-button social or political issues. Every year, polling suggests that, at heart, we are not. As long as we keep fighting with each other, and are fearful of the other, allowing the flames of hate to be fanned, we lose.
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!
It is reported that as a child of 6, Brooklyn’s Basquiat became a junior member of the Brooklyn Museum, thanks to his mom Matilde. Helping him discover and explore artists work and his own creativity was foundational to his later development in studio and as a street artist, along with partner Al Diaz as part of SAMO@. This year Jean Micheal’s sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Basquiat expanded and more fully recounted his personal story for many thousands of his fans, art world documentarians, and educators with their touring KingPleasure exhibition.
Seeing this image of Basquiat as a boy reminds us that children’s creativity should be encouraged and nurtured, no matter what field they pursue. For artist SEF 1, who painted this mural, it was his connection to the graffiti and street art story that compelled him to do this portrait on the street. “It seemed to me that I owed him this last tribute in which I present him as a child, with the innocence of kid who dreams of being someday a great artist making drawings in his notebooks, creating the basis of his adult artistic practice.”
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!
Don’t ask us, we just report what we see. And really, this mural captured the attention of many on our site and social accounts – so it appeals to, or puzzles, many.
This year, the painter, who is one-half of Telmo Miel, gave us the background of this attenuated portrait placed upon an apartment complex. “I don’t know. I was photographing my son, um, and took these from him, uh, with him looking through the holes of the toilet rolls.” The sparrows fit nicely, he told us, possibly inspired by the themes of freedom, autonomy, nesting, and natural beauty. Later he looked at the shots of his son and decided to include him in triplicate.
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!
“One of them gave me the honor of saying, ‘I like your painting,’ so I am satisfied.”
Norwegian artist Kjell Pahr-Iversen recalls a simple, yet meaningful chat he had with some school kids frolicking in the playground he had painted. Known worldwide for his unique mix of minimalist and abstract expressionist styles, Pahr-Iversen values getting feedback from unexpected sources. This photo, capturing a moment between him and a young child – their ages separated by roughly 80 years – as they examine a new painting, really highlights the reason behind our work.
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!
“I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.”
– First man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, in a speech to Congress, September, 1969. In a speech to Congress (16 Sep 1969).
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!
As we bid farewell to this eventful year, Vegan Flava’s mural “Rooted above the Taiga” in New York’s Chinatown, created in June 2023, stands out as a poignant reminder of our interconnectedness with nature. Depicting an Arctic fox, a creature surviving in the harsh yet delicate balance of the taiga and tundra, Vegan Flava not only brings attention to the plight of this often-overlooked species but also symbolizes the broader challenges of climate change and environmental stewardship.
This piece, resonating with the themes of adaptation and resilience in the face of changing climates—both literal and metaphorical—speaks to the core of our shared experience in 2023. As we step into the new year, let’s carry the hope that, like the Arctic fox, we can find our balance and thrive amid the transformations our world is undergoing. Vegan Flava’s work, rooted in activism and empathy, is a call to embrace our role as guardians of our planet, a theme that has been crucial this year.
Elfo is a graffiti writer and social commentator whose work intentionally sidesteps traditional notions of style or technical lettering. This …Read More »
In her latest mural, Faring Purth delivers a powerful reflection on connection, continuity, and the complexity of evolving relationships—a true …Read More »
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