A super large mural with a ton of great color. The subject matter is good — individually — but it’s a bit chaotic together. My art director brain says there was a lot of “client feedback” which pulled this piece further and further from the original concept. I love the strong border and then having select elements break out beyond the edge.

West Side, Manhattan.

A classic mural and instantly recognizable to any New Yorker who’s been stuck in northbound traffic on the West Side highway. It’s tricky to get a good photo of it as it sits behind some trees and billboards, but it’s been on my list for years. Finally, I found myself walking by and managed to get right under it for this shot. The multi color shading on CP30’s surface is a really interesting choice. It defies the movie canon and aligns it with the artist’s own aesthetic. Perhaps it also frees it from copyright claims? Sadly it seems, the “stop wars” message still goes unheard. Painted by the muralist Eduardo Kobra.

West Side, Manhattan.

A bit of gratitude for this holiday season. Here’s a giant mural on the side of one of the piers on the Hudson river. Don’t let the photo fool you — each letter is about 30 feet tall. As with any mural, and large lettering in particular, it’s always a feat to get the lines straight. Given the double drop shadow and overlapping text, this example is very well executed indeed. I don’t know the origin story and the pier itself is a bit worn down, but it’s a sentiment worth sharing.

West Side, Manhattan.

Clean lines and bold colors are always going to get my attention — especially on a giant scale such as this mural. This is only a portion of the much larger wall. It’s deceptively difficult to get the line work precise. The blue and white coupled with the main typeface reminds me a little of the old Anthora coffee cup design. I also appreciate that the message itself, is almost a challenge (in true NYC fashion).

West Side, Manhattan.

Found this mural outside an Italian butcher shop with a ton of intricate, maze-like detail. It’s definitely got a Keith Haring vibe which is both good and bad. Good, because I love Haring’s work. Bad, because it seems to lack the social relevance of Haring’s work. I still love all the little interconnecting doodles and you’ll certainly never get bored looking at it.

West Side, Manhattan.

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.

Here’s part of a larger mural and I’ll leave the description up to the artist (conveniently with a plaque!). I’m always in favor of more public art even if I find this piece a bit tame. And even if it comes with corporate sponsors. Bring on the color and chaos!

West Side, Manhattan.