Aryz and David Choe

These pieces, on two buildings at 7th and Mateo in Los Angeles, were painted last week by three of the biggest names in street art and graffiti: David Choe, Retna and Aryz.

I want to give special thanks to Tim Hans for going out and shooting these photos for us, since this isn’t his usual work with Vandalog.

Mostly David Choe

Mostly Aryz

Aryz, David Choe and Retna

Aryz, David Choe and Retna

Retna and David Choe

David Choe

Aryz and David Choe

Photos by Tim Hans

I can’t believe it’s been over a year since anyone on Vandalog mentioned Cuellimangui. In my opinion, he is one of the sickest artists working from Chile(originally from Spain) at the moment and it’s rather surprising to see how underdocumented his works are. I hope you all enjoy this psychedelic trip with Cuellimangui and keep your eyes open for more trash-wave bubble gum visions from Chile to you.

Photos courtesy of Cuellimangui

Norwegian artist Martin Whatson just painted these two pieces in Stavanger, Norway to coincide with his solo show at Reed Projects. Martyn Reed, of Reed Projects and Nuart, describes Martin’s work in a way that I really love: “Having seen street art dogged, tagged and generally disabused, Martin Whatson gets in ahead of the crowd by tagging his own stencils to bits.”

Photos courtesy of Martyn Reed

Semor and KKade at 5Pointz

German graffiti master Semor – who had painted at 5Pointz last year — returned to NYC earlier this month with three amazingly talented Swiss artists: Onur, Wes21 and Kkade. A standout is the mural — fusing elements of surrealism, photorealism and graffiti — that the four fashioned together.

Wes 21 and Onur at work

Posing with Meres (second to left), 5Pointz founder and curator

The completed mural

 Photos by Lois Stavsky

Ácaro is a street artist based in Monterrey, Mexico with a lot of talent and a beautiful black and white style and iconography reminiscent of Roa, Herakut, and Phlegm. Ácaro’s characters really look like they belong where they are painted, and that’s a rare but important skill for a street artist. Can’t wait to see more from them, but here’s some of my favorites from their flickr archives.

Photos by Ácaro

Reka for the Dulwich art festival

Another update from Reka, this time from London. Reka continues to push his distinctive style around the world, he was recently in London for the Dulwich Art Festival.

From Reka “I was asked to take part in the Dulwich art festival in London this week. Each artist was to base their wall on a painting from the oldest Art museum in UK – The Dulwich Picture Gallery. Other artists taking part included Conor Harrington, ROA, Run, Shok1, Remi Rough and Phlem to name a few. I chose a piece called “The Rape of Europe” An ancient Greek Mythology. More info on the festival check the website.”

He also painted an abandoned house in South London.

And some lucky guys van! Wish it was mine!

All photos courtesy of Reka

Roa in London

Happy weekend. Hope you’ve had a less busy week than me.

• Various and Gould spotted this odd but awesome tribute to a piece of graffiti in Berlin.
• Jaz recently visited C215′s town of Vitry, France, where he painted this stunning wall.
• Meanwhile, Anthony Lister is going huge in LA.
• Also on the west coast, Aryz painted one of his best murals to date in San Fransisco.
• In Miami, the city commissioner complains that a mural risks making a neighborhood look like a ghetto. Kinda funny given how muralists have been accused of helping to gentrify Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.
• Ben Eine is always a joy to watch on camera. A nice, honest guy who just doesn’t feel like giving his friends free paint.
• Mear One and Ben Slow collaborate in LA, and it’s Mear’s first mural with a brush.
• Invader hit London. What do you think about the Star Wars themed piece? It’s not for me.
• Rochester’s Wall Therapy mural project has an IndieGoGo campaign running to try and fund this year’s event.
• A bit late on this one, but tonight the shop/gallery/bookstore Needles and Pens celebrated 10 years of existence with a huge show at The Luggage Store in San Fransisco including work by Know Hope, Deuce Seven, Pez, and so many other talented artists. Luckily, the show is on through June 8th.
• Also late to mention that Martin Whatson had a show opening this week Reed Projects in Stavanger, Norway.

Photo by Unusualimage

LNY was at Haverford College this week to paint on James House, a student arts space that has also been painted by Gaia, Labrona and Troy Lovegates. Here are some photos of his mural, Apex Predator. One of his best pieces yet, in my opinion. Thanks to The John B. Hurford ’60 Center for the Arts and Humanities’ Student Arts Fund at Haverford College and James House for sponsoring the mural.

Photos by RJ Rushmore

Blu recently finished two murals in Niscemi, Italy, where residents are protesting the US Navy’s installation of communications satellites which will be integral to controlling the next generation of military drones.

The above piece is one of my favorites from Blu in quite a while. The drones slowly transform into crosses at a graveyard, and the multitudes of Niscemi stand up and resist against the military monster. Besides the ethical concerns about drones, residents are also worried about the electromagnetic waves that the communications satellites will emit. Check out the No MUOS website for more information about the protests.

Translation: “Free up the landscape”

While the idea of satellite dishes as visual pollution would probably come up anywhere, it’s especially relevant in Niscemi, which looks like an absolutely beautiful place. Just have a look at the spectacular view just next to this mural.

And I also want to give major props to Blu for continuing his mission as a mural painter on his terms, even when he could certainly be making a living by painting at mural festivals around the world and selling his work indoors. Instead, he gets to paint what he wants, where he wants, when he wants, but he doesn’t have the easiest time of it. Any other muralist of Blu’s fame and talent would have a scaffolding or a lift to get help him paint, but all Blu had for these murals was a ladder and an extendable pole…

Photos courtesy of Blu

Joachim Ixcalli is originally from California, but now based in Barcelona, Spain. His style mixes influences from both of those regions in what he calls a Pacific-Mediterranean style. That’s all fine and dandy, but I like it for the juxtaposition of elements in the foreground and background.

Joachim Ixcalli and Spogo

Photos courtesy of Joachim Ixcalli