Made it back into Manhattan this week and — not surprisingly — quickly found a bunch of new street art. The colors on this piece caught my eye. The spray paint is a bit fun as it roves within and outside the lines. But I found the dots to be a bit derivative of Damien Hirst who always leaves a bitter exploitative taste in my mouth these days. Luckily, this artist — Mo Riza — is more than dots and I actually like the rest of his work better than this piece.

Manhattan, New York

There’s a lot to unpack in this piece — loose brushwork, layer upon layer, a frantic somewhat anxious details and an unusual color palette. There’s a pulsing radiating energy to the brain and even the whole piece. I’m not even sure it’s by a single artist or just a various people adding to the mix. I snapped this photo In December, so perhaps it’s serving as a metaphor for the last year representing our collective dread. Let’s hope we can shake it off and regain a bit of our self health in 2023.

Chinatown, New York

Another piece from the deep archives. This is a closeup of a wheat pasted cut out printed on the bottom of a traffic pole. Beyond the glamour of the colors, there’s a distinct attitude in the position of her head and in her eyes. A wariness perhaps as she seems to be turning away but not looking away. Wearing men’s clothes but with red lipstick, she captures (demands?) the masculine without relinquishing the feminine.

Brooklyn, NYC

Roving reporter @hopemanbob is on the job sending this beautiful mural shot from the west coast. Gorgeous red in the background with a mighty good dog on guard. The big head is a nice cartoon touch. Reminds be a bit of this mascot. From the artists @illuminaries.

Oakland, California.

One final piece from this pandemic plywood series. This one with a mix of things going on — the blue cover up, the pattern, the tag overlay, the phrase (stenciled?) and the broken black heart. A good use of the plywood as a reversed color in the pattern versus the heart where instead of drawing two halves, it’s a single heart split with gold. Perhaps that’s the whole point — the pattern of whole things broken and super understanding.

Soho, Manhattan.

Another plywood piece from a boarded up storefront. Appreciate the question and think it’s interesting that the it’s covering the hearts. @tmjartscollective

Soho, Manhattan.

The pandemic provided fresh new canvases along with the quiet streets to paint. This piece is a bit sinister as it conjures the grim reaper, the angel of death calling for change. But change is often hard and we do resist. Perhaps that’s why the call comes from the dark. And is that a monocle? Somehow my brain says yes.

Soho, Manhattan.