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
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.
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:
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
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
Members of the Chicago-based IDC Arthouse collective leave their mark in Bushwick
Three members of the Chicago-based IDC Arthouse Collective recently made their way to Bushwick where they’ve been busy at work on at least two murals.
Photos by Lenny Collado
German Artist Clemens Behr Brings his Craft to the Streets of NYC’s East Village
Based in Berlin, Clemens Behr crafts ephemeral sculptures and installations from recycled materials. Often exhibited in galleries, this one was spotted this past weekend on Second Avenue in NYC’s East Village.
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.
Photos by Lenny Collado
More from Ad Hoc Art’s Welling Court Mural Project
I made it over to Welling Court this afternoon — and was greeted by dozens of freshly-painted walls. Some shutters were closed and a few of the spaces were inaccessible, but there was still much to see and document. I also discovered some new artists.
Lorenzo Masnah brings DISASTERS to FUSE
Disasters is the theme of a collaged mural currently underway in the hallway of the FUSE Gallery in the East Village. 26-year-old Lorenzo Masnah has been collecting, enlarging and painting over and on newspaper and magazine images of global disasters, tragedies and human rights violations for years. His politically-infused work has been published in zines and books and exhibited in a variety of gallery and alternative setting in New York City, LA and in his native Bogota, where, along with Stinkfish, he is a founding member of the APC (Animal Planet Collective). Lorenzo’s newest work will be the subject of an exhibit at FUSE Gallery next year. In the meantime, this mural is definitely worth checking out – if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of 93 2nd Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets in NYC’s East Village.
Zéh Palito brings his Whimsical Vision to Lower Manhattan
Opening tonight from 6:30 – 9:30 at the new FB Gallery at 368 Broadway is Zéh Palito’s solo exhibit, Love Peace Unicorns. As the title suggests, the exhibit brims with whimsical fancy. We stopped by last night as Brazilian native Zéh Palito (Danilo Ricardo Silva) was completing an indoor mural of playful, colorful geometric figures and forms. We spoke to him briefly:
When did you first start getting up in the streets? About 11 years ago. I was 14 and hanging around with my cousin who was quite a tagger. He and the movie Beat Street were my inspirations. At first, I was just into getting my name up in the style of the pixadores. It seemed like the thing to do.
Have you had any formal art education? When I was 12 years old, my mother enrolled me in a special public school, where I studied oil painting for two years. I continued to study fine arts and then graphic design as an undergraduate.
Do you feel that your formal education helped you develop as an artist – an artist whose preferred canvas is the streets? I would say, “Yes.” Certainly the people I met while I was studying art did. One of my closest friends is a former art teacher.
Why have you chosen the streets as your primary canvas? I love sharing my art with others. I feel depressed when I can’t, and I feel happy when I see people responding with smiles to my work.
Where do you most like to paint? I love painting on the countryside. People are friendlier and more appreciative.
Besides Brazil, where else have you painted? I’ve painted in Chile, Bolivia and Peru. I spent six months as a volunteer in Zambia and painted there. I’ve also had a solo exhibit in Santiago, Chile.
How do you feel about bringing your art into a gallery setting? I’d rather paint in a public space, but showing in a gallery allows me to do that.
If you could paint with anyone, with whom would you choose to collaborate? Remed…he’s one of my favorite artists.
What is your most memorable experience as a street artist? I’d say painting in an orphanage in Zambia. The experience has motivated me to become more involved with international NGO’s in the years ahead.
How do you feel about NYC? I love it. I plan to be here for at least a few weeks. I’m looking forward to finding some outdoor spaces and collaborating with some of the local artists.
Photos by Lois Stavsky