All posts tagged: Jaime Rojo

Lapiz Paints “Rainbow Nation” in Paderborn, Germany

Lapiz Paints “Rainbow Nation” in Paderborn, Germany

Lapiz, known for his poignant social commentary through street art, has once again made his mark with Rainbow Nation, a striking new mural at the Secret City Festival in Paderborn, Germany. This time, he tackles the urgent issues of division, intolerance, and the rising tide of far-right ideology sweeping across Europe. In response, Lapiz turns to the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag to create a mural that speaks of unity, diversity, and democracy.

Lapiz portrait of Mr. Leeroy Matata. Rainbow Nation. Secret City Festival. Paderborn, Germany. (photo © Dirk Rellecke)

The piece is built around the portraits of four German citizens, each chosen for their significant contributions to society. Using his signature halftone stencil technique, Lapiz has masterfully woven their faces into fingerprints—a clever metaphor for individuality and the unique, positive impact these figures have on the world. The mural celebrates the idea that no matter where we come from, what we believe, or who we love, our human rights are the same.

Lapiz portrait of Ms. Margot Friedländer. Rainbow Nation. Secret City Festival. Paderborn, Germany. (photo © Dirk Rellecke)

From top to bottom, the mural features:

  • Leeroy Matata, a former wheelchair basketball player turned influencer, whose powerful presence in social media challenges perceptions of ability and inclusion.
  • Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor and public advocate, a living testament to resilience and a voice for remembrance in these troubling times.
  • Tessa Ganserer, one of the first trans women in the German parliament, a symbol of progress and the ongoing fight for gender equality.
  • Mai Thy Nguyen-Kim, a chemist and science journalist, who has become a trusted voice in Germany, promoting scientific literacy and combating misinformation.
Lapiz portrait of Ms. Tessa Ganserer. Rainbow Nation. Secret City Festival. Paderborn, Germany. (photo © Dirk Rellecke)

The mural’s message of equality and solidarity comes at a critical moment as Lapiz calls attention to the political shifts threatening democracy in Germany and beyond. Painted in the heart of Paderborn, this vibrant artwork stands as a reminder that resistance can be bright and cheerful – and that art has the power to inspire and galvanize change.

Lapiz’s journey, from the streets of Dunedin to the walls of Hamburg and Buenos Aires, is meant as a testament to his belief that art should reflect our times and challenge the status quo. Rainbow Nation is a bold statement, not just for the Secret City Festival but for anyone who believes in the power of unity and the strength of diversity.

Lapiz portrait of Ms. Mai Thy Nguyen-Kim. Rainbow Nation. Secret City Festival. Paderborn, Germany. (photo © Dirk Rellecke)
Lapiz. Rainbow Nation. Secret City Festival. Paderborn, Germany. (photo © Dirk Rellecke)
Lapiz. Rainbow Nation. Secret City Festival. Paderborn, Germany. (photo © Dirk Rellecke)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 10.20.24

BSA Images Of The Week: 10.20.24

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

New York is slamming, as ever, when it comes to new street art and graffiti popping up in expected and unexpected places. Here’s our weekly conversation with the street, this week featuring: The Yok, Sheryo, Lexi Bella, Calicho Art, Humble, IMK, Manuel Alejandro, EXR, Zoot, Great Boxers, Thobekk, Aaron Wrinkle, OTOM, Poor Rupert, Paige Bowman, Elena Ohlander, MUSKA, Motomichi Nakamura, and TABBY.

Thobekk (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Thobekk (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Humble (photo © Jaime Rojo)
“Crows before hoes” is a twist on the phrase “bros before hoes,” meaning that loyalty to friends or one’s crew comes before romantic or sexual relationships. It’s often used in subcultures like street art to emphasize the importance of solidarity and loyalty among peers. IMK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
ZOOT MUSKA (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Motomichi Nakamura (photo © Jaime Rojo)
TABBY (photo © Jaime Rojo)
TABBY (photo © Jaime Rojo)
A portrait of Grand Master Flash by OTOM (photo © Jaime Rojo)
George Spencer, aka Great Boxers, just opened a show with street artist Modomatic at Arty Goodness Friday night. 77 Washington Ave. Brooklyn NY (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Poor Rupert (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Poor Rupert (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lexi Bella (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Calicho Art and Manuel Alejandro (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Calicho Art and Manuel Alejandro (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Paige Bowman for East Village Walls. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
The Yok and Sheryo posters. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Aaron Wrinkle (photo © Jaime Rojo)
LOVE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
New York is Red Hot. Jake El Diablo (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Elena Ohlander (photo © Jaime Rojo)
EXR (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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Fabio Petani : Nature-Inspired Mural for Oulu, Finland’s Bid for European Capital of Culture 2026

Fabio Petani : Nature-Inspired Mural for Oulu, Finland’s Bid for European Capital of Culture 2026

As part of Oulu, Finland’s preparations to become the European Capital of Culture in 2026, Italian street artist Fabio Petani has created a stunning new mural titled Ferrous Sulfate, Achillea Millefolium & Lathyrus Palustris in this city that blends cutting-edge technology, a vibrant cultural scene, and scenic natural surroundings. This work, commissioned by Upeart and curated by a selection committee from over 500 artists, highlights Petani’s signature style—one that blends natural elements with chemical compositions to symbolize the environment’s delicate balance.

Fabio Petani. FERROUS SULFATE,, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM & LATHYRUS PALUST. Oulu, Finland. (photo courtesy of the artist)

“Each detail in the mural was inspired by photographs I took during my time in Oulu, which were then adapted into a composition that captures the essence of the area’s natural beauty,” says Petani.

Fabio Petani. FERROUS SULFATE,, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM & LATHYRUS PALUST. Oulu, Finland. (photo courtesy of the artist)

Located near the Oulujoki River, a key inspiration for the piece, the mural features local flora like Achillea Millefolium and Lathyrus tuberosus, each chosen for their symbolic representation of the city’s resilience and cultural roots. This mural’s vibrant colors drawn from nature and its harmonious design are stylistically consistent with Petani’s other works, which often merge scientific and botanical themes to reflect a deeper connection between nature and urban spaces. As Oulu prepares for its cultural milestone, this mural serves as tribute to the city’s natural beauty and the community’s enduring spirit.

Fabio Petani tells us, “This piece is more than just decoration; it is a lasting tribute to the city, preserving the spirit of Oulu’s nature for future generations.”

Fabio Petani. FERROUS SULFATE,, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM & LATHYRUS PALUST. Oulu, Finland. (photo courtesy of the artist)

FERROUS SULFATE,, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM & LATHYRUS PALUSTRIS, Fabio Petani

Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture, Upeart

@fabiopetani@oulu2026official @upeart @joropoika @ollifoo

UPEA Finland 2018, A Cross Country Installation of Quality Murals

BSA + UPEA in Finland


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Graffiti as Concept: Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt’s Impact on 1960s New York’s Streets

Graffiti as Concept: Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt’s Impact on 1960s New York’s Streets

Special guest Ted Riederer shares the story of a New York artist who, as a gay street youth, made his mark with bold, conceptual graffiti. Blending street culture with high-concept art, his early works challenged boundaries, reshaped graffiti history, and paved the way for a pioneering career in immersive installations and social activism.


by Ted Riederer


Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, whose work is collected by prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA, and the Brooklyn Museum, and who was honored by President Barack Obama, began his career as a conceptual graffiti/street artist in the late 1960s. Known for his numinous sculptures and installations crafted from everyday materials like staples, cellophane, paper bags, and Scotch tape, Tommy’s journey started with a bold move. At just 20 years old, in 1968, he launched a spray paint stencil campaign on 4th Street in the East Village—a calculated street art action that reshaped and rewrites the many narratives of graffiti history.

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. The image from the scanned contact sheet appears courtesy of the artist and photographer Robert Rosen.

I first met Tommy in 2004 at the School of Visual Arts, where he instantly became one of my favorite professors. In 2018, when I was the Artistic Director of Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project, I co-curated an exhibition of Tommy’s work, which The New York Times described as a “revelation.” In preparation for the exhibit, Pavel Zoubok Gallery, along with the team at Howl, scanned hundreds of photographs and documents from the artist’s personal archive. We discovered a long-forgotten framed collage made from Village Voice clippings and photographs taped to a black plastic bag. This collage illuminates one of the first recorded acts of conceptual graffiti in New York City. An even more remarkable find was a handwritten manifesto from 1970, in which Tommy describes his philosophy behind this early work. This thoughtful and articulate document shows a level of sophistication beyond the artist’s years.

When I recently interviewed Tommy at the Mary Manning Wash Rehabilitation Hospital, he reflected on this formative period in his life. In 1967, after two semesters at Pratt, he ran away from his home in Linden, New Jersey. His father had derailed his artistic aspirations by enlisting Tommy as a ditch digger—ditch digging was the entry-level job for a career in construction. The night before his first day of construction work, Tommy fled home and hitchhiked to Times Square with 57 cents in his pocket.

Tommy found the Times Square scene to be “too rough,” so he made his way to the Village, where he found both safety and camaraderie among a vibrant community of gay street kids. One of these kids got him a job at an employment agency as a messenger. With regular, albeit meager, income, Tommy migrated east looking for cheap rent. He eventually found an apartment on 4th Street between Avenue B and C. He recounted, “I think the landlord rented to me because he didn’t think I would last very long. That neighborhood was really dangerous.”

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. The image from the scanned contact sheet appears courtesy of the artist and photographer Robert Rosen.

Tommy, who often describes his life as full of unexpected, fortunate events, met the painter Christopher Scott on a corner outside the Museum of Modern Art after he couldn’t afford the entry fee. Scott was the partner of Henry Geldzahler, the curator of Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They adopted Tommy into their circle of friends and introduced him to the fecund theater scene that was thriving in the East Village. This scene included Charles Ludlam, Jack Smith, and John Vaccaro, along with institutions like La Mama Experimental Theater Club and Vaccaro’s Play-House of the Ridiculous. Tommy was deeply inspired by this new artistic community, especially Ludlam’s straightforward way of communicating, which avoided the pretentiousness often found in the Uptown art world.

Tommy described this period to me: “I was reading the Village Voice, reading John Perreault, and I said to myself, ‘I have to do something that connects with what they’re doing.’ So that’s how the street art happened. It was totally calculated, but it had to be true to who I am at the same time. Why graffiti? Graffiti was already considered art by the street kids, which was all the gay kids who I hung out with, but no one listened to them. I wanted to make something that wouldn’t look like graffiti but would be graffiti. It would have a conceptual element going through it, but it would have mostly a romantic element going through it. The reverie of being there was what I wanted it to be mostly about. This was art that couldn’t be bought. It had to be walked away from.”

Tommy instigated his project by sending a cryptic ransom note to Village Voice art critic John Perreault, signing it “Mr. T.” “I wanted them to think I was some crazy forty-year-old,” Tommy remembered. In a Village Voice article published on June 6, 1968, John Perreault wrote, “Recently I received a cryptic note in the mail. It was scrawled in ballpoint pen on green graph paper torn from a notebook, and it urged me to come and see ‘New York’s first real environmental art.’”

Tommy had covered 4th Street with a white spray-painted stencil that read “OBJECT ART.” In his 1970 manifesto, Tommy wrote, “Street graffiti was making the transition from the big sloppy paint brush to the more exacting use of the spray can. Conceptual art was isolating words as contemplative moments. The political atmosphere was sympathetic to the plight of the exploited and the underprivileged. I wanted to combine all these directions. I chose the name Mr. T to avoid identification. I chose the words ‘OBJECT ART’ from two definitions: Object as ‘a thing (an object)’; Object as the verb, to object (to object to something). And I wanted the words ‘OBJECT ART’ to hint at the expression ‘object d’art.’”

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. The image from the scanned contact sheet appears courtesy of the artist and photographer Robert Rosen.

I spoke with Al Diaz, one of the graffiti artists behind the 2023 exhibition and book New York City of Kings: A History of New York Graffiti. I wanted to find out the state of graffiti in 1968 to fully understand the context of Tommy’s stencils.

Diaz explained, “Graffiti in the late 60s and 70s was more of a sport, quantity over quality. Julio 204 surfaces in 1967/68. It’s the first appearance of a name and number tag, even before Taki 183. What Tommy was doing was more ambitious. Instead of trying to communicate with the esoteric community of other taggers, Tommy was attempting to communicate with the public at large. Graffiti at the time was written by a local kid who addressed everyone in the neighborhood saying, ‘I’m here.’ It’s different than what Tommy was doing. He was appropriating that public space.”

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. The image from the scanned contact sheet appears courtesy of the artist and photographer Robert Rosen.

Tommy wrote, “Partially following Leonardo’s advice to seek compositional inspiration in blots and stains on old walls, I isolated the most interesting walls, thought-provoking objects, and modified views through the placement of ‘conceptual graffiti,’ stenciled, as a viewfinder on or nearby the involving moments of vision. The experience of the ‘Art’ was constantly unformed and forming through confrontation with life, yet aesthetically informed through the view or moment of vision. It was done to confuse the participants into a state of creative tension between the ethical and the aesthetical.”

Scanned from the contact sheet cutouts in Tommy’s collage, photographer Robert Rosen’s beautiful photographs not only capture Tommy’s stencils, but they also document the transition from graffiti made with a brush to graffiti made with the spray can. One photo even captures the murmuration of carrier pigeons on the horizon. When I showed Tommy Rosen’s group portrait of kids from the neighborhood posing with an “object art” stencil, he exclaimed, “Those kids have to be in their 70s now.”

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. The image from the scanned contact sheet appears courtesy of the artist and photographer Robert Rosen.

Tommy wrote, “Coming from a working-class background, I understood that the Bauhaus concept of people as bees in a hive was totally dehumanizing to the people it professed to help.”

This street art campaign was only the beginning. Tommy continued his practice with “environmental art,” transforming entire buildings into immersive installations and converting his own apartment into a gallery space. These endeavors were all featured in The Village Voice, with the gallery specifically highlighted in an article by Charles Ludlam.

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. The image appears courtesy of the artist and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art.

The rediscovery of Perreault’s article from The Village Voice, Rosen’s photographs, and, most importantly, Tommy’s writings, is extraordinary. These documents provide insight into the early history of New York graffiti, a now ubiquitous global art form. This history also helps us understand the egalitarian underpinnings of an artist who is deeply concerned with social justice issues. Tommy was honored by President Obama in 2009 for his participation in the Stonewall rebellion and appears in front of the Stonewall with other youth in a well-known photograph by Fred W. McDarrah entitled Celebration After Riots Outside Stonewall Inn.

Photo ©Fred W. McDarrah, Celebration After Riots Outside Stonewall Inn. Front row Nelly (Betsy Mae Koolo), Chris (Drag Queen Chris), Roger Davis, Michelle and Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt, 1969.

Al Diaz, who co-wrote SAMO with Jean-Michel Basquiat, reflects, “We didn’t understand completely what we were doing with our public writing project back then. Tommy’s art and writing help me define and understand more deeply what we were trying to do. Tommy’s stencils helped jumpstart his career just as SAMO helped jumpstart ours.”

Even though he has retired from teaching, Tommy continues to educate us through his work and the story of his life. He is actively making work from the bed of his rehab hospital. “Some of my best work,” he claims.

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. Portrait of the artist by Jason Wyche appears courtesy Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project.

Scenes from Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt installation views from the exhibition Tenemental: With Sighs Too Deep For Words (Nov/December 2018).

Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. Installation view from the exhibition Tenemental: With Sighs Too Deep For Words. Courtesy of Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project and the photographer Jason Wyche.
Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. Installation view from the exhibition Tenemental: With Sighs Too Deep For Words. Courtesy of Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project and the photographer Jason Wyche.
Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt. Installation view from the exhibition Tenemental: With Sighs Too Deep For Words. Courtesy of Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project and the photographer Jason Wyche.

About the Author: Ted Riederer


Described as a “one-time refugee from punk and sometime band member,” Ted Riederer has traveled the world equipped with painting supplies, electric guitars, amplifiers, old LPs, record players, drum kits, hard disk recorders, photography gear, a vinyl record lathe, and long-stemmed roses. His artistic journey has taken him from the Americas to the Antipodes, with his work exhibited both nationally and internationally at venues such as PS1, Prospect 1.5, Goff and Rosenthal Berlin, Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery, Jack Hanley Gallery (San Francisco), Marianne Boesky Gallery, Context Gallery (Derry, Ireland), David Winton Bell Gallery (Brown University), the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, the Liverpool Biennial, and the Dhaka Arts Center in Bangladesh.

Riederer’s acclaimed project, Never Records, has traveled from New York to Liverpool, Derry, New Orleans, Texas, Kansas City, Brooklyn, Amman, and London, where it was sponsored by the Tate Modern. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Riederer served as the Founding Artistic Director of Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project, a non-profit gallery and performance space in the East Village. The New York Times has recognized Howl! Happening as “instrumental to the history of the area.”


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BSA Images Of The Week: 10.13.24

BSA Images Of The Week: 10.13.24

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Did you see the Northern Lights in Brooklyn skies this week? Did you see Scott LoBaido installing “Trump Crossing” signs in Manhattan? Or Johnny Depp’s new “A Bunch of Stuff” gallery show in Chelsea? Did you see P Diddy leaving a Brooklyn jail to request bail for a third time? New York is so proud.

The beat on the street is washed in autumn sunlight, cooler nights, and traffic jams. If you hear cars honking, you know its New York in the fall. Street artists and graffiti writers are still hard at work, or play, and we like to capture their work here, before it is gone.

And here we go boldly into the streets of New York to find new stuff from: Shepard Fairey, C215, Obey, Homesick, Queen Andrea, Steve the Bum, Boom, Pumpkin, Exiled, Stytte, Delude, Fader, and Aise.

Angela Davis is 80 this year, and her message and resilience has inspired generations, even as times continue to change. OBEY (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Vintage C215 in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Steve The Bum (photo © Jaime Rojo)
STYTTE in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
DELUDE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
FADER (photo © Jaime Rojo)
QUEEN ANDREA (photo © Jaime Rojo)
AISE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Hot Spot BOOM! in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
EXILED (photo © Jaime Rojo)
HOMESICK WEST (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Blowing Kisses in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist in Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
PUMPKIN (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. The China Club. Berlin. Autumn 2024. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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SNIK Stencils “Still Life” In Manchester

SNIK Stencils “Still Life” In Manchester

Manchester’s Northern Quarter is known for its vibrant street art scene (including the Cities of Hope festival), independent music venues, and creative businesses that occupy its historic, repurposed buildings​. This eclectic neighborhood has become a cultural hub, drawing visitors with its large-scale murals and a mix of alternative shops, cafes, and record stores​. Despite the pressures of gentrification, the Northern Quarter of this UK city remains a key destination for artistic expression and community engagement, where spaces like the Manchester Craft and Design Centre have become cultural landmarks, housed in buildings with a rich history and offering spaces for local artists to showcase their work.

SNIK. Still Life. Manchester, England. (photo © courtesy of the artists)

The street art duo SNIK, also from the United Kingdom, has just completed their latest highly detailed, multi-layered stencil here, “Still Life.” A meditative portrait spanning many stories, it makes one wonder who she is and if she has a special connection to this neighborhood.

SNIK. Still Life. Manchester, England. (photo © courtesy of the artists)

“We’re thrilled to return to Manchester, a city that has always welcomed our work with
open arms,” say the duo. “With Still Life, we wanted to create something that not only
enhances the urban landscape but also encourages people to take a step back and
appreciate the little things, the moments of calm we often overlook.”

This new one joins their 2018 wall called “Serenity,” which some say has become a cherished part of Manchester’s artistic heritage. Due to the ethereal nature of street art, one can never know for sure how long a piece will last, so we recommend you catch this one while it still has life.

SNIK. Still Life. Manchester, England. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
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Yo! What’s Fresh? It’s Canemorto and the New York “Fish Market”

Yo! What’s Fresh? It’s Canemorto and the New York “Fish Market”

Canemorto, the enigmatic three-headed creative beast from Italy, is making its long-awaited debut in New York this week with Fish Market, a performance and exhibition that blends their rebellious spirit with conceptual flair and humor. Known for their seamless collaboration and shared anonymity, this trio defies traditional artistic boundaries, evolving from their roots in skateboarding and graffiti into a multi-disciplinary force. Despite meeting in high school over fifteen years ago, their bond has only strengthened, allowing them to create with a rare synchronicity that blurs the lines between the individual and the collective.

Hailing from the industrial landscapes of Northern Italy, Canemorto’s rise began in the streets, where they became infamous for their unconventional “roller pieces” spread across European cities. These monumental, messy, and often illegal works challenged the status quo of urban art—causing periodic rejection from both graffiti writers and street artists.

Not that they mind. They didn’t want to be pinned down anyway. Canemorto continuously innovates, whether by serving pizzas shaped like dog heads, recording a vinyl rap single with FAME Festival impresario Angelo Milano, or exhibiting their “radio-controlled paintings” at Palazzo Vizzani in Bologna. They channel their raw, gritty street energy and sharp instincts into formal shows and unexpected performance art, all with a signature irreverence. The anonymity protects their creative freedom, allowing them to challenge consumerism, authority, and the art world itself without fear of compromising the ideals that fuel their work.

Canemorto Fish Market. Gratin Gallery. NYC. (photo from the original exhibition in Milan courtesy of the artists)

With Fish Market, Canemorto brings this ethos to life in New York. Visitors will experience their work in a fish shop setting, where drawings are served as “fried” or “filleted” pieces, offering a critique of art as a commodity while engaging audiences with humor and unexpected theatricality. It’s a rare opportunity to see them live, a fleeting chance to witness a trio that has built a covert yet undeniable presence in the contemporary art scene, always on Canemorto’s terms.

Show Information:

  • Thursday, October 10: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (grand opening)
  • Friday, October 11: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  • Saturday, October 12: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a final “fish auction” at 7:00 PM
  • Location: Gratin NYC, 76 Avenue B, New York, NY
Canemorto Fish Market. Gratin Gallery. NYC. (photo from the original exhibition in Milan courtesy of the artists)
Canemorto Fish Market. Gratin Gallery. NYC. (photo from the original exhibition in Milan courtesy of the artists)
Canemorto Fish Market. Gratin Gallery. NYC. (photo from the original exhibition in Milan courtesy of the artists)
Canemorto Fish Market. Gratin Gallery. NYC. (photo from the original exhibition in Milan courtesy of the artists)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 10.06.24

BSA Images Of The Week: 10.06.24

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Who’s in town this week? New York is no stranger to visiting street artists, but the thrill never fades. Right now, we’ve got Kiwi sensation Owen Dippie here to blow minds with his latest piece, plus the wild Italian trio Canemorto. These graffiti-street artist-fishermen from Brianza, up North of Milan, are kicking off a three-day performance at Matta. Come by to see what is the catch of the day, and they might be speaking their own brand of “Canemortish”. The three-day event will be fresh Thursday through Saturday – let’s see what they’ve reeled in for you!

Shout out to the Brooklyn Museum, which hosted hundreds of guests at the gala opening of a new show featuring 200+ Brooklyn artists Friday night. A celebration of the museum’s bicentennial, the collection gives a stunning overview, a diverse array, and an appreciative stage for many artists working here today. The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition is organized by Jeffrey Gibson, Vik Muniz, Mickalene Thomas, and Fred Tomaselli and coordinated by Sharon Matt Atkins, Deputy Director for Art. If you can’t get to NYC, take a virtual tour of the exhibition.

Also congratulations to Museum of Graffitti for their first show in Shanghai. Co-founders Allison Freidin and Brooklyn native Alan Ket have mounted MOG’s very first exhibition on mainland China, “Street Echos”, right in the heart of the Changning District of Shanghai. A year in the making, the show combines an explanation of graffiti’s humble roots with the current status of the art form.

Tensions are sky-high on the streets with just a month left until the Presidential election. Hurricane Helene has already left over 200 dead and parts of the Southeast are still struggling to recover. Mayor Eric Adams seems to be clinging to his seat for now, while the anti-immigrant rhetoric is getting louder while a program 35 new billboards are welcoming immigrants to society. Meanwhile, the stock market’s flying high even though a recent report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) lays bare the harsh truth: for most Americans, the economy is broken. And let’s be real—it’s been that way for years, no matter which party’s been calling the shots.

But at least New York may get a Subway Series this month, so let’s go Yanks and Mets! What are the odds?

And here we go boldly into the streets of New York to find new stuff from: Jeremy Deller, Joe Iurato, Veng RWK, Jason Naylor, Stikki Peaches, Muebon, CP Won, Never Satisfied, Mena Ceresa, and Brozilla.

Joe Iurato for The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Never Satisfied (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Never Satisfied (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mena Ceresa (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mena Ceresa (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Stikki Peaches (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Muebon (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jeremy Deller (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Jason Naylor (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Brozilla (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Veng RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Veng RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
CP Won (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Lauren Eggleston and MoveOn – with an assist from ACAB. The small addition of a rectangular mustache swings the entire vibe. VOTE (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Untitled. Manhattan, NYC. September 2024. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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Nevercrew’s ‘Switch’ Elephant: A Visual Metaphor for Time and Awareness

Nevercrew’s ‘Switch’ Elephant: A Visual Metaphor for Time and Awareness

We are skillful in avoiding discussing the elephant in the room: our relationship with the Earth and its natural elements, which are negatively impacted by our actions. This is perhaps the biggest issue that polluting industries and war-makers try to ignore, even as they steal the future from all of our children.

Swiss duo Nevercrew masterfully depicts this metaphor in their mural “Switch,” created in Wuppertal, Germany, for the Urbaner Kunstraum and curated by WupperOne929 and Valentina Maoilov. While their description of the work may seem deliberately vague, a closer examination reveals a call to reflect on pressing issues.

NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)

The mural appears to explore themes of perspective, change, and awareness. The glass-domed shape suggests the passage of time, symbolizing urgency and the continuous flow between different states, such as the past, present, and future. The floating elephant with its trunk above water might represent a struggle for survival or the need to adapt to changing circumstances. Elephants are often symbols of wisdom and memory. In this context, the mural may illustrate a clash between the natural world and human-made environments, represented by the quaint town of modern consumers below.

Ultimately, the artwork seems to confront us with realities we often keep at a distance—urgent issues that demand our attention. It invites viewers to “switch” their perspectives and become more aware of the interconnections between nature, human actions, and the passage of time.

NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)

No one is discussing the elephant in the room: our relationship with the Earth and its natural elements, which are negatively impacted by our actions. This is perhaps the biggest issue that polluting industries  try to ignore, even as they steal the future from our children.

Swiss duo Nevercrew masterfully depicts this metaphor in their mural “Switch,” created in Wuppertal, Germany, for the Urbaner Kunstraum and curated by WupperOne929 and Valentina Maoilov. While their description of the work may seem deliberately vague, a closer examination reveals a call to reflect on pressing issues.

No one is discussing the elephant in the room: our relationship with the Earth and its natural elements, which are negatively impacted by our actions. This is perhaps the biggest issue that polluting industries  try to ignore, even as they steal the future from our children.

Swiss duo Nevercrew masterfully depicts this metaphor in their mural “Switch,” created in Wuppertal, Germany, for the Urbaner Kunstraum and curated by WupperOne929 and Valentina Maoilov. While their description of the work may seem deliberately vague, a closer examination reveals a call to reflect on pressing issues.

NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
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Apples, Clogs and Pottery: Parees Celebrates Asturian Identity

Apples, Clogs and Pottery: Parees Celebrates Asturian Identity

Parees Festival Brings Asturias’ Past and Future to Life

In its seventh year, the Parees Festival continues to enrich Oviedo’s urban landscape, adding three new murals and bringing its collection to a remarkable total of forty works. Local, national, and international artists have left their mark on the city through this contextual muralism festival, each piece echoing the rich cultural fabric of Asturias. Organized by the Oviedo Municipal Foundation of Culture, Parees stands out as one of the few mural festivals that authentically reflects the city’s community, history, and environment—almost as if the walls are narrating the soul of Oviedo.

This year’s festival underscores its commitment to Asturian identity by paying tribute to regional symbols such as Faro pottery, the iconic wooden clog (madreña), and the apple, deeply ingrained in local tradition. Through a careful process of artistic mediation led by the festival’s curators and the involvement of the Asturian community, Parees has once again created art that dialogues with its surroundings. As festival director Eduard Crespo puts it, “Parees is not just an encounter with urban art; it is a celebration of our roots, a window to the past, and a projection toward the future of Asturias. This is the true essence of the festival: dialogue, reflection, and the shared celebration of our identity.”

María Peña. (photo © Fer Alcala)

Parees: A Contextual and Participatory Approach

What sets the Parees Festival apart is its commitment to creating “contextualized murals” that go beyond decoration. Every mural results from a collaborative process involving the community, artists, and artistic mediators like the Raposu Roxu team. This participatory model allows murals to be authentic expressions of the local environment, giving residents a voice and capturing the region’s unique characteristics. With its focus on quality over quantity, Parees invests in each work’s durability and cultural significance, ensuring that each wall becomes a lasting visual conversation piece.

The festival extends this sense of dialogue and reflection beyond the walls, inviting residents and visitors to explore the murals through sustainable mobility initiatives like bicycle routes. In this way, Parees adds layers to Oviedo’s streetscape and encourages a thoughtful, environmentally friendly exploration of urban art.

María Peña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)

Mapecoo: Reflection on the Future of the Asturian Apple
María Peña, known artistically as Mapecoo, brings attention to the uncertain future of Asturias’ emblematic apple, particularly those with a Denomination of Origin. In her mural, Peña visually contrasts traditional apple cultivation with elements of the digital age, possibly addressing the tension between preserving this essential regional crop and the fast-changing world around it. A vibrant palette and cultural symbolism; is it a tribute or a call to action?

María Peña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
María Peña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
María Peña. Mapecoo. (photo © Fer Alcala)

Marat Morik: The Legacy of Faro
Marat ‘Morik’ Danilyan, an artist recognized for his dynamic compositions and reflections on cultural heritage, immortalizes the centuries-old pottery tradition of Faro in his mural on Luis Álvarez Fueyo Street. The artwork captures the essence of this ancient craft, urging passersby to acknowledge, celebrate, and hopefully preserve the deep cultural legacy that Faro pottery represents for Asturias.

Marat Morik. Faro. (photo © Fer Alcala)
Marat Morik. Faro. (photo © Fer Alcala)
Marat Morik. Faro. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
Marat Morik. Faro. (photo © Fer Alcala)
Marat Morik. Faro. (photo © Fer Alcala)

Marat Morik: Tribute to the Asturian Madreña
On the same street, Morik pays homage to the madreña—a symbol of Asturian craftsmanship and heritage. Through this mural, he is preserving memories of the madreñera trade while sparking a reflection on the importance of sustaining traditional skills in the face of generational change. The piece resonates with Morik’s signature style, blending realism and not so subtle social commentary.

Marat Morik. Asturian madreña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
Marat Morik. Asturian madreña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
Marat Morik. Asturian madreña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
Marat Morik. Asturian madreña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
Marat Morik. Asturian madreña. (photo © Mira Hacia Atras)
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BSA Images Of The Week: 09.29.24

BSA Images Of The Week: 09.29.24

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Street art duo Faile is reshaping the scene, “designing for a new world” in New York this week with their latest venture. Known for their early days of illegal street art in Brooklyn two decades ago, Faile now takes a bold step forward through their partnership with Herman Miller. The collaboration results are nothing short of innovative, distinctive, and wildly imaginative – the kind of creativity we’ve come to expect from these guys, who continue to make the path by walking. Patrick and Patrick have never shied away from taking risks in exploring new techniques of image combination and manipulation. Congratulations to them and their team for yet another remarkable leap!

New York never stops, even when hosting its most high-profile guests. Just this past Friday, a defiant Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN, practically declaring war on the world, while Mayor Eric Adams stood in court, pleading “Not guilty, your Honor,” to charges of bribery and wire fraud tied to alleged foreign donations for official favors. Meanwhile, former President Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelensky to discuss the ongoing war with Russia—and likely debated how much more US taxpayers should contribute instead of addressing pressing issues at home like housing for the homeless or universal Medicare for All.

Amid all this, the city’s pulse is changing with the season. The leaves are turning stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red, and the streets are alive with vibrant murals, graffiti, and street art—both legal and not. New York’s energy is palpable this week, and we’re thrilled to welcome visitors from around the world while showcasing the street works from sister cities like Brooklyn and Berlin.

And here we go boldly into the streets of New York and Berlin this week with new extramural stuff from: Queen Andrea, Modomatic, Millo, Dulk, Par, Caro Pepe, Devita, Never Satisfied, JT, Mondo Crew, Mr. Super A, and Carlos Alberto.

Millo (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Millo (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Modomatic (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Queen Andrea. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Caro Pepe. Urban Nation Museum Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Devita. Urban Nation Museum Berlin. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
PAR (photo © Jaime Rojo)
DULK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
DULK (photo © Jaime Rojo)
JT (photo © Jaime Rojo)
JT (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Carlos Alberto (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Carlos Alberto (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Never Satisfied (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Never Satisfied (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mondo Crew (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Super A – with some inspiration from Leon Keer perhaps? (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Mr. Super A (photo © Jaime Rojo)
Rainbow. Berlin. September 2024. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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EVASIONES. THE STREET AS FICTION. Another Perspective on Urban Art in Barcelona

EVASIONES. THE STREET AS FICTION. Another Perspective on Urban Art in Barcelona

“Evasiones”: B-Murals and Indague reveal the most unknown and reflective side of graffiti and urban art.

EVASIONES. THE STREET AS FICTION

B-Murals and INDAGUE present “Evasiones. The Street as Fiction,” an exhibition that explores the lesser-known, reflective side of graffiti and urban art. Running from September 28th to November 23rd, the show invites visitors to pause and consider how urban art interacts with public spaces, transcending the confines of traditional exhibitions. The exhibition is free to the public, and the opening event will include a live performance by musician Enric Ponsa.

The show features renowned artists like Sebas Velasco, Ampparito & Irene Luna, Les Frères Ripoulain, Vandals On Holidays, Maz & Riaq Miuq, FMF, Jean Philippe Illanes, Yoni, and Sonja Ben. Each artist brings a unique perspective, from Les Frères Ripoulain’s critical exploration of graffiti in media to FMF’s fusion of illustration and ceramics through industrial recycling.

Sebas Velasco (b. 1988), continues his hunt for fragile brutalism that only rears its head in the margins of urban life. A multidisciplinarian, Velasco brings tenderness where you won’t expect to see it and may very well overlook it. With a blend of photography, video, and painting, he lays bare the blunt instruments of life, the destruction we’ve wrought, insisting there is something redeeming, poetic even. Like many of the brave artists and thinkers in this showcase, his work is reblending categories, street and gallery, personal and political.

Sebas Velasco (photo © courtesy of the artist)

From the press release: “The show is aimed at both scholars and researchers in the art world and anyone interested in discovering the most human, unknown, and reflective aspects of grati and urban art. The opening will take place on September 28th from 6 pm to 9 pm. Admission is free, and some of the artists featured in the exhibition will be attending, along with a live performance by musician Enric Ponsa. The exhibition will be open until November 23rd and parallel activities will be organized for all audiences.”

Sebas Velasco (photo © courtesy of the artist)
Sebas Velasco (photo © courtesy of the artist)
Sebas Velasco (photo © courtesy of the artist)
YONI (photo © courtesy of the artist)
Ampparito and Irene Luna. (photo © courtesy of the artist)
Sonja Ben (photo © courtesy of the artist)
Les Frères Ripoulain (“Desperate Housewives”, Marc Cherry). (photo © courtesy of the artist)

B-Murals Centre d’Art Urbà

C/ Ferran Turné 1-11, 08027 Barcelona

Opening: September 28th, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m

Exhibition opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, from 12 pm to 7 pm. Free admission.


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