Street art is inseparable from the modern-day image of the Big Apple. This form of self-expression was born in this city when it was only seen as vandalism. However, attitudes toward graffiti have changed in the last couple of decades. Today, cool graffiti art can be found all around NYC. Here are five locations that you can visit to experience this art form and get in touch with the culture around it.
Five places where you can find cool graffiti art in New York City
Banksy at 79th St between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave
If you come to the Upper West Side, you can see one of the rare remaining works by the famous street artist Banksy. This cool graffiti art depicts a boy hitting a fire hydrant with a hammer in the signature Banksy stencil style. The graffiti was painted on the white wall of a store, and, thanks to its owner who has preserved it, we still can admire this work of art.
First Street Green Art Park
Our next stop is the East Village, where we stumble upon the colorful open-air mural gallery at the First Street Green Art Park. Before this place was filled with murals, installations, and sculptures, it was an empty alley with bare plain walls. The murals are changed regularly, so you have something new to look forward to every time you come back here.
The Bushwick Collective
Another example of cool graffiti art transforming the look of an entire neighborhood is the Bushwick Collective, an outdoor gallery exhibiting national and international street artists. The Bushwick Collective offers pay-what-you-like guided tours for those who want to hear about the display from experts.
World Trade Mural Project
In the place where the horrible and tragic event occurred at the World Trade Center in 2001, there are now beautiful murals adorning the walls. Todd Gray, Hektad, BoogieRez, Stickymonger, Chinon Maria, and Sebastian Mitre were the artists invited to bring something hopeful to this grim place.
The Houston Bowery Wall
Located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, this legendary wall proudly bears artworks by Banksy, JR, Tomokazu Matsuyama, and other renowned artists. Keith Haring was the first artist to leave this mark there, but his piece was soon removed and replaced by advertisements. The graffiti you see now is the recreation of Haring’s original work, which was created in 2008.
Have fun exploring the artistic landscape of New York City!