It's survival in the City: Urban Art that has survived the years on the Streets of New York

It’s survival in the City: Urban Art that has survived the years on the Streets of New York

by wlancehunt in graffiti, graffito, mural, New York City, Street Art

By its nature, Street Art doesn’t survive long exposed on the streets. It’s ephemeral. Good, bad, and indifferent—time, the elements, rebuilds, vandals, or straight up demolition hits every piece. Little survives the years intact. Some limp through marred, some vanish entirely, painted over or its walls torn down. Such is the fate of all art that lives publically. Sometimes, though, a piece for whatever reason, respect, natural barriers, sheer luck manage to survive. A few make it nearly unscathed.

This fortnightly shows off a few peices that have survived for some years on the streets of New York. Some better than others.

Claudia “CLAW MONEY” Gold

A prolific NYC street artist who started back in 1989. Here, I found two styles: a monumental wall rejuvination and a modest door decoration. Find out more about Claudia and company here.

Bright colored, stripped claws floating through green bubbles floating up a black wall. Street art that survived. — Bubblegum Claws

Making a wall, lined with storage boxes attractive: Bright colored, candy-striped claws turn through green bubbles that float up a black wall, making this drab spot of the city a wall to walk past and admire. #streetart #mural #lowerEastSide

Single Claw emblazoned with RTHR, driping paint and outlines in yellow dots, like perforations. Street art that survived. — RTHR Claw Door Ornament

This single Claw, emblazoned with RTHR, dripping paint, outlined in yellow dots, like perforations ornaments this side door—marking this as a door to wonder about. #streetart #mural #lowerEastSide (rthr is a record producer I have found out: here is the FB page: rthr)

Bradley Theodore

A long time NYC street Artist, originally from the Caribbean, and graduate of NYC’s School of the Visual Arts, he works on fashion and pop culture royalty in his disticntive style.

A Bradly Theodore skeleton in bold colors wearing a dark suit and tie, with yellow shoes and sunglasses. Street art that survived. — A Bradly Theodore skeleton waiting at the door.

A Bradly Theodore skeleton in bold colors wearing a dark suit and tie, with yellow shoes and sunglasses. Perhap Carl Lagerfeld? Fashion Plate for sure. #streetart #mural #lowerEastSide

A Bradley Theodore skeleton Queen in bold colors waits to receive you in the recessed door. Street art that survived. — Skelton Queen will Receive You

This Bradley Theodore piece has survived out behind Tapas Bites for 4 years now, with only one vandalizing tag. Not too bad, the tag, but still distracting, and a weak effort—and illustration that it’s easier to destroy than create. #streetart #mural #lowerEastSide

More about Bradley Theodore here.

Edward Granger

A section of wall with square columns bursting from top right to bottom left in layers. Alternating pastel colors, topped with black. Street art that survived. — A section of wall with square columns bursting from top right to bottom left in layers. Alternating pastel colors, topped with black

In 2016, locals launched a project called “The New Allen” on the Lower East Side, inviting a number of well known NYC street artists to enliven the street with large works. The above piece by Edward Granger @edward__granger has survived well. For more about the artist, click here. #streetart #mural #lowerEastSide

Anonymous

Line drawing on a pulldown gate that resolves into interlocking faces. Street art that survived the streets. — Jumble of Faces: One

This line drawing on a pulldown gate resolves into interlocking faces, some looking left, others to the right. The word “One” stretches up one’s forehead while a small stick figure walks on another one’s neck. The artist left no mark, and the age is uncertain, though the fading on the upper right corner suggest it been here a few years. That it comes out only at night, on holidays and vacation days helps it survive. Goes to show that one needn’t be famous in order to survive years on the streets. #streetart #grafito #nyc #LowerEastSide

Close up of line drawing on a pulldown gate that resolves into interlocking faces. Street art that survived the streets. — Jumble of Faces: Free

Close up of a line drawing on a pulldown gate that resolves into interlocking faces, with the word “Free” stretching across a forehead, the final E spilling into between space. Here, all the eyes look left without emotion—at what? Who knows. And that’s part of the fun. Along with the branches casting shadows of fingers across one and all. #streetart #grafito #nyc #LowerEastSide