Art in Unexpected Places: A Guide to New York City's Street Art Alleys
When picturing New York City, the nitty gritty streets and alleys will likely come to mind before anything else. While New York is hardly as filthy as that one uncle will lead you to believe, the city’s reputation for graffiti isn’t unfounded. Street art is a vital part of NYC’s culture, and not just the random graffiti spotting this alley or that alley. Murals of all sorts have been sanctioned and sometimes commissioned by the city to help preserve the local culture and provide a bit of color to the otherwise gray of NYC’s deeply urban cityscape.
You’ll find everything from political and cultural demonstrations to murals honoring local heroes. You’ll find plenty of whacky and fun imagery as well. There are a few standout locales where the best of the best artists display their work, you just have to know where to look!
And before you start exploring NYC’s street art scene, remember that there will be a lot of walking on busy streets and traveling on crowded subways. Don’t carry more than you absolutely need to as you navigate the city. Trust a Bounce luggage storage location in New York to take care of any extra bags you have. Here are a few of the best locations for street art around town:
The Bushwick Collective - Bushwick
More of an “outdoor museum” than a graffiti alley, this expansive Brooklyn plaza near the Jefferson Street stop along the L Train features dozens of murals. Most of the content celebrates New York luminaries, particularly hip-hop legends Wu-Tang Clan, but there’s a global influence with a rotating cast of artists from around the world.
First Street Green Art Park - Lower East Side
Situated on the northwest corner of 1st Street and Houston on the Lower East Side (closer to the Bowery, really) is an open art space that features multiple disciplines. It is certainly more of a community center than a dedicated template for graffiti, as there are art workshops happening alongside sculptures, murals, and even live music. That’s not to say you won’t see some of the city’s absolute best street art!
Freeman Alley - Lower East Side
Situated between Bowery and Chrystie St, just outside the iconic Freemans Restaurant, it’s pretty easy to pass by this alley (and the restaurant) without noticing a thing. It’s debatable whether or not that is on purpose, but the fact remains that this little corner of the Lower East Side is one of the most authentic parts of Manhattan still remaining. This cramped alley features work from a who’s who of NYC street art institutions, but the gritty textures and grime of the city maintain the character and ethos of OG graffiti culture.
The Graffiti Hall of Fame - Harlem
At the corner of 106th St and Park Ave in Harlem, one of New York’s most important cultural artifacts is displayed in vivid color. Prominent Harlem activist Ray “Sting Ray” Rodriguez founded the Graffiti Hall of Fame collective back in 1980 to celebrate the vibrant culture of this part of New York and point to various social justice initiatives.
Still going today, the astoundingly massive ‘HARLEM’ mural features imagery that tells the story of the area along with exploring the hip-hop subculture. The mural is situated on the walls of the Jackie Robinson Educational Complex’s schoolyard, which can only be visited on weekends due to school being in session.
11th Street and First Avenue - East Village
The Southwest corner of First Avenue and 11th Street has been a fixture of the East Village’s street art scene for some time, but the passing of a legendary political figure and social justice icon has brought new juice to the art space.
When Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, and the political and social turmoil followed, the mural of her image became a pivotal space for demonstrations in her honor. The four-story building at the corner has ample visibility for showcasing murals, so when the time comes for the inevitable change from one mural to the next, the world will know.
DUMBO Walls - Brooklyn
While this series of murals is hardly the most iconic image in the area (simply Google ‘DUMBO’ to find the obligatory picture of the Brooklyn bridge between two ancient brick buildings), they are a vital part of the experience.
This four-block stretch along the BQE is situated near the York Street Subway station and features rotating murals from local artists. Because it’s a collection of murals, you’ll have to walk a bit to get the whole experience. The key locations for the DUMBO Walls are at the intersections of York Street with Jay Street and Front Street. There are murals at Sands Street and Pearl Street, too. There are smaller murals at the corners of High Street and Dumbo, and then Fulton Ferry and Clark Street.
Welling Court Mural Project - Astoria, Queens
You won’t have to ask a Brooklynite to know that Queens is blowing up, as they’ll likely tell you this and that they’re planning on possibly moving there... But this particular borough has an incredible street art scene worth crossing the Pulaski Bridge to explore.
Sanctioned by the community and designed under the direction of the Ad Hoc Art NYC Collective, the Welling Court Mural Project has brought additional attention to this part of the city for the past 15 years. The 150 or so murals feature work from a global cast of artists, but you can easily make a connection to this deeply multicultural part of the city.
Coney Art Walls - Coney Island
If you’re making the trek all the way out to Coney Island, you might as well stop by the outdoor museum commissioned by NYC mainstay (and notable art dealer) Jeffrey Deitch. The stretch of walls along 3050 Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island features 70 different murals. There isn’t necessarily an overarching theme tying these murals together, but you’ll find a few honoring local legends, celebrating Coney Island’s history, and social justice issues.
Conclusion | Art in Unexpected Places
Exploring NYC under any circumstances requires plenty of mobility. But if you’re trying to sightsee or check out the city’s many murals and graffiti alleys on a travel day, you’ll want to find a secure place to store your bags while you snap pics of New York’s epic street art. Luckily, the Bounce luggage storage network has hundreds of locations throughout the Five Boroughs, so you’ll have an easy time finding and booking luggage storage.
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