Tiles

April 27, 2025

A linoleum asphalt mosaic on the street showing an abstract city skyline in red, white and yellow.

Although, this isn’t an original Toynbee tile — a mystery I’ve always been fascinated and enamored by — this is definitely a linoleum asphalt mosaic in the same construction method if not exactly in spirit. I love the smart limited color palette and tight composition, rough cut and still recognizable. There’s something about the shapes and parallel rectangles that makes me think of jazz, Blue Note record covers and Saul Bass movie posters. It’s familiar and unknown, individual and united. To quote one of the originals, “You must make and glue tiles!! You!!!! As media!”

Midtown, Manhattan.

Hey You

March 22, 2025

A spray paint graffiti of a friendly plush blue monster with big eyes and orange and pink spots smiling and pointing to the left.
A sticker of a friendly plush blue monster with big eyes smiling and pointing to the right.

Here’s a little dose of joy for you today. Monster friends! I found the first large painting and then the second small sticker nearby. I love the cartoon style, the clean lines and great color. They’re just what the city needs. More please!

West Side, Manhattan.

Amen

March 15, 2025

Spray paint graffiti of a bearded god-like figure floating in a cloud with the letters DZEL stacked below the cloud.

Descending from the heavens is this piece from the artist DZEL. The line work is a bit loose, but I love the subject matter, layout and coloring. Plus, doing it all while hanging off the top of the building isn’t easy. Amen, indeed.

West Side, Manhattan.

Smirk

December 8, 2024

Hand painted graffiti of a face with eyes closed and a sly smile

A bit of hand painted fun I found on the bottom of a light post. Eyes closed, big nose and a sly smile reminiscent of the Amazon logo. Maybe that smile is a nod to the Amazon logo. Better yet, perhaps it reflects the feeling of escaping from Amazon.

West Side, Manhattan.

Nowhere

November 16, 2024

A stencil spray paint graffiti on the sidewalk in orange reading, "New York or nowhere".

A fresh stencil from the sidewalks of Manhattan. I do love stencils although the cynical side of me thinks this might be part of some advertising campaign. Let’s hope it’s just the exuberance of a local artist instead. A kind of mantra for perseverance.

Midtown, Manhattan.

Ferengi

November 2, 2024

The end of a large metal dumpster painted with a light blue background. Graffiti of lightening bolts and skulls are across the top. A large painting of an alien head in shades of orange is at the bottom. It has buck teeth, scales and the letter "D" embossed on the forehead.

I saw this dumpster and that face immediately reminded me of the Ferengi race from Star Trek. I think it’s the pronounced forehead and ears. And of course, the color. I imagine it was even more striking when new and fresh. Now though, it’s been tagged, rusted and beaten about construction sites for a while. Bonus: it has a few skulls across the top for the obligatory Halloween vibe.

West Side, Manhattan.