BROOKLYN STREET ART LOVES YOU MORE EVERY DAY
Wynwood Walls marked its 15th anniversary during Miami Art Week 2024, drawing artists and fans who packed into Jessica Goldman Srebnick’s walled compound to see the new round of murals, sculptures, and glassworks. A renowned showcase for a curated slice of contemporary street art, the new lineup featured works by:
- Askew One (New Zealand)
- Bublegum (Spain)
- Carlos Mare (New York City)
- Digital DOES (The Netherlands)
- ELLE Street Art (New York City)
- Logan Hicks (New York City)
- Simon Berger (Switzerland)
- Sophie Mess (United Kingdom)
The eclectic mix brought together old-school graffiti pioneers and contemporary street artists, with a standout contribution from Simon Berger. Goldman Srebnick made sure to highlight his work as we arrived, and for good reason—his fractured-glass portraits installed in the windows of the on-site subway car are a striking and unusual experience. Using a hammer to create detailed images by breaking glass, Berger’s work plays brilliantly with light, an understated yet shimmering result evoking comparisons to C215’s stencils and Vhils’ subtractive jackhammered murals. There was reportedly a live demo of his technique during the week, but unfortunately, we missed it.
Not all the walls feature new work; some still bear murals from past years. It’s always a delicate decision to replace pieces, but Wynwood eases the transition by “retiring” older works with an onstage champagne ceremony. The commemorative bottles, a thoughtful gesture, come with their own theatrics—Tristan Eaton made sure the first few rows got a celebratory spray, and Mantra spent much of the night reconnecting with his bottle as he darted between friends, fans, and the dance floor.
A highlight of the official artists dinner was a raucous set by iconic British DJ Fatboy Slim, whose hits like The Rockafeller Skank and Praise You brought the crowd to life – including a hot minute with Martha Cooper and Jaime Rojo – shared the following day on Instagram. Attendance figures for Art Basel Week are hard to estimate, but Wynwood Walls continues to attract enormous crowds, with thousands exploring installations and events throughout the week.
The anniversary also saw the launch of Street Art Icons, a retrospective book published by luxury house Assouline, chronicling Wynwood Walls’ 15-year legacy. A signing event featured a lively discussion between Goldman Srebnick and contemporary art dealer Jeffrey Deitch, adding their own memories to the origin stories and intentions of the first protagonist, Tony Goldman.
Having guided Wynwood’s curatorial direction for 12 of its 15 years, Goldman Srebnick’s speeches often reflect her connection to the artists and her perspective on their work. Every year brings shifts—subtle changes in the artists on view and the evolving tastes and attitudes that define graffiti and street art culture as it continually reinvents itself. Among the growing number of street art celebrations worldwide, Wynwood remains a key platform, bridging the gap between artists and audiences while providing its take on the pulse of the culture’s heartbeat.
The sun was casting a shadow bisecting half of this mural. We could only take detail photos of it.
Jose Mertz. Wynwood, Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
