Author: Lois Stavsky

Lois Stavsky is an educator, curator and writer with a particular passion for global street art for $1500 personal loans online. She has recently contributed to: Stickers: Stuck-Up Piece of Crap: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art, Rizzoli, 2010; C215: Community Service, Criteres, 2011 and Graffiti: 365, Abrams Books 2011.
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A Visit to São Paulo’s Choque Cultural

São Paulo’s Choque Cultural represents some of my favorite artists — whose work I don’t get to see often enough. Among them are Titi Freak and Daniel Melim.  Here are some Titi Freak pieces I discovered on my recent visit to their space in Pinheiros:

Titi Freak @ Choque Cultural, photo by Lois Stavsky
Titi Freak @ Choque Cultural, photo by Lois Stavsky
Titi Freak @ Choque Cultural, photo by Lois Stavsky
Early Titi Freak @ Choque Cultural. photo by Lois Stavsky

Although I had to return to NYC before the opening of Daniel Melim’s solo exhibit, I did get to see some of his earlier pieces:

Daniel Melim @ Choque Cultural, photo by Lois Stavsky
Daniel Melim @ Choque Cultural, photo by Lois Stavsky
Daniel Melim @ Choque Cultural, photo by Sara Mozeson

An exhibit of Daniel Melim’s newest body of work opens this afternoon and continues through August 26 :

 

 

 

 

 

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Os Gêmeos in São Paulo

Os Gêmeos’s bombs, pieces and characters seem to be just about everywhere in their native city. Here are a few of their characters:

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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São Paulo’s Museu Brasileiro da Escultura (MuBE) Presents GRAFFITI FINE ART

In the upscale São Paulo district of Jardim Europa, perhaps the only São Paulo neighborhood whose walls are graffiti-free, the Museu Brasileiro da Escultura (MuBE) is presenting GRAFFITI FINE ART, an exhibit featuring the work of 20 street artists.  Thanks to a tip from MUNDANO, we stopped by a few hours before the exhibit officially opened last night and liked what we saw.  Curated by Binho Ribeiro, it continues through July 24th at Av. Europa, 218 in SP. 

Vito, photo by Lois Stavsky
Nadu, photo by Lois Stavsky
Opni, photo by Sara Mozeson
Binho, photo by Lois Stavsky

 And we discovered the following mural outside MuBE. I later found out that it was created for the 1st International Biennial of Graffiti Fine Art that was held at MuBE in 2010. I took this shot from street level: 

Faith47, Can2 and Ment1, photo by Lois Stavsky
 

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The Pichadores Meet in Central Sao Paulo

Ranging in age from early teens to mid 30’s, Sao Paulo’s controversial pichadores meet weekly to exchange blackbooks, writings and the latest info. This past Thursday, they met at their regular meeting place in the center of town that they refer to as “The Point.” They seem to represent a range of educational levels and economic backgrounds.  And unlike most NYC writers, they were eager to be photographed.

Photo by Lois Stavsky
Photo by Lois Stavsky
Photo by Sara Mozeson
One of the few females present; photo by Sara Mozeson
Photo by Sara Mozeson

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The writings on the walls of the “other” São Paulo: pixado and graffiti

A different kind of street art emerges in São Paulo’s economically disadvantaged neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city — some of which I visited yesterday. It is mostly the writings of the pichadores who practice São Paulo’s distinct tagging style, along with graffiti that reminds me of some of the walls I’ve seen in the South Bronx. Here’s a sampling:

 photos by Lois Stavsky

 

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From the Streets of Sao Paulo

I arrived in Sao Paulo yesterday, and within an hour of exploring  the nearby streets from my base here in the center of town, I came upon dozens of alluring, diverse images.  Here are a few:


Binho

Dninja

 



os gemeos bomb, pixo writing, and more

 Many more to come!   (I’ve identified the artists whose work I recognize; info on the others to come).

photos by Lois Stavsky

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Shepard Fairey Hits Manhattan’s Lower East Side

A few days ago, the Obey crew began hitting NYC. This afternoon Shepard and his assistants were busy on the Bowery and Rivington.

The Obey crew @ work
Shepard affixing his stencil
The almost-completed piece on the Bowery and Rivington

Photos by Lenny Collado

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New Paintings from Old School Legend Fab 5 Freddy @ Gallery 151 on the Bowery

One of NYC’s most active train bombers in the late 70’s and early 80’s, Fred Brathwaite aka Fab 5 Freddy is probably best-known for his work as a film producer, director and co-host of Yo MTV Raps.  He was also, as Jeffrey Deitch reminds us, one of the leading forces behind the movement that brought graffiti into galleries and helped link the distinct uptown and downtown cultures. With a painting on exhibit at MoCA’s Art in the Streets and a solo exhibit of recent work at Gallery 151 at 350 Bowery, this hip-hop pioneer is once again gaining recognition for his visual art. Last night I stopped by the gallery to check out “New York: New Work” that opened earlier in the month (and closes this Friday). There’s a range of mixed-media paintings on exhibit including images of boxers and exotic dancers. My favorite pieces, though, are those that celebrate the bold flavor and brash spirit of old school graffiti. Here are a few:
Photo by Lois Stavsky
Photo by Lois Stavsky
Metro Movement, an allusion to the New York City subway car Fab 5 Freddy covered with Campbell’s soup cans in 1980, Image courtesy Gallery 151