I’ve always been a fan of cyan & magenta color combos going back to my early design days learning about four color separations for offset printing. It’s a combo that is so rich, has good contrast and blends fantastically. Top it off with a great positive stencil with custom lettering and this piece is a real winner. It just hit me at the right time too. Sometimes it seems like we can’t do anything, but we can always make art.

Wall Street, Manhattan.

There are simple things we can all do to change the world and this is a wonderful example. Take the existing structure and re-contextualize it to fit a new narrative. Just a printer and some glue. You don’t need to get the colors exact as long as you get the typeface (Helvetica) correct. I love examples like this where art and politics meet to update, but not erase, an existing message. Its subtlety does not lessen its impact. Hidden in plain sight. Many will pass, some will read, and the message will spread. It’s well past time to change our environment, well past time to change the prevailing narrative. Time to subvert.

Midtown, Manhattan.

A wonderful bit of color for a spring day. This is a fantastic example of attention to detail and intelligent decisions from a highly experienced artist. All those little interior lines, the color pairings, the 3D edging — it’s all composed with precision and patience.

Lower East Side, Manhattan.

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.

Following up on the Hey You post, I walked past the location again and lo and behold, more friends have been added! Maybe they heard my plea? There’s plenty more wall available at this spot, so here’s hoping this is just the beginning of a whole army of monster friends.

West Side, Manhattan.

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.

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.