Williamsburg has long been a focal point for established and emerging graffiti artists competing for niche spaces in which to exhibit their artwork. At present, local residents appreciate a wide selection of street art that peers out from walls, billboards and abandoned commercial and industrial lots.
Once deemed as a subversive act by many detractors, graffiti has evolved into a popular art form that’s gained wide recognition in international galleries and influenced marketing campaigns, graphic designers, and the fashion industry. And while London has replaced New York at the forefront of street art, Williamsburg has remained a fertile ground for experimental graffiti.
Accessible rents, a thriving arts community, and the availability of public spaces have attracted a diverse cluster of talented graffiti artists that continue to challenge our perspective through different mediums. In recent years, graffiti in Williamsburg has ranged from highly stylized texts and tags that are commonly associated with American graffiti, to more European-style street art, including poster-work, stencils and stickers.
An improvised tour of the area can offer you a substantial survey of classic and contemporary styles of artwork. On a recent walk through Williamsburg, we found four different types of graffiti:
Throw-ups and Pieces
Considered to be the earliest forms of graffiti, these elaborate representations of the artist’s name vary in size, thickness and outline. The use of multiple colors, and the speed and precision that is required to write them, have elevated these trademark signatures to a universal form of self-expression. Start your tour with a selection from legendary and upcoming writers:
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Artist: T.Kid (piece)
Location: Hope and Keap (on Hope) |
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Artist: Ghost (piece)
Location: Keap and Hope (on Keap) |
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Artist: Os Gemeos (piece)
Location: North 3rd and Wythe (on Wythe) |
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Artist: Armer (piece)
Location: North 10th and Roebling (Construction site on North 10th) |
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Artists: Peek/Funk (Pink and Smith) (pieces)
Location: North 6th and Metropolitan (Gas Station) |
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Artist: Diva (piece)
Location: North 6th and Metropolitan (Gas Station) |
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Artists: Aero/Teo (throw-ups)
Location: Metropolitan and Marcy (Abandoned Lot on Marcy) |
Murals
Painted by individual artists or collectives, murals can sometimes commemorate emblematic musicians, politicians and activists. With the influence of graffiti in advertising, some graffiti artists have also been contracted to paint murals for local businesses and corporations. Featured murals on this tour include:
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MÖTUG collective (Monsters of the Unda – Ground)
Artist: Ewok (mural)
Location: Keap and Hope (on Hope) |
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MÖTUG collective (Monsters of the Unda – Ground)
Artist: Ewok (mural)
Location: Keap and Hope (on Hope) |
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MÖTUG collective (Monsters of the Unda – Ground) – Artist: Ewok (mural)
Location: Keap and Hope (on Keap) |
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MÖTUG collective (Monsters of the Unda – Ground)
Artists: Obey (mural)
Location: Keap and Hope (on Keap) |
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MÖTUG collective (Monsters of the Unda – Ground)
Artists: T.Kid (mural)
Location: Keap and Hope (on Keap) |
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Artist: R.Robots (mural)
Location: North 3rd and Bedford (on North 3rd) |
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Artist: R.Robots (mural)
Location: North 3rd and Bedford (on North 3rd) |
Stencils
Working from a print of one or more colors that are later sprayed-over, stencils allow graffiti artists to focus on cultural icons that can be reproduced with precision. In Williamsburg you will find stencil-work from:
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Artist: Nick Walker (paint/stencil)
Location: Roebling and Metropolitan (on Roebling) |
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Artist: C215 (stencil)
Location: Corner of Roebling and Metropolitan (Fire Box) |
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Artist: C215 (stencil)
Location: Metropolitan and Roebling (on Metropolitan, Staircase) |
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Artist: Nick Walker (stencil)
Location: Wythe and North 3rd St. (on Wythe) |
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Artist: C215 (stencil)
Location: Meeker and Withers (On Meeker, Gas station) |
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Artist: C215 (stencil)
Location: Meeker and Withers (On Withers, fire hydrant) |
Poster-work
Graffiti artists wheatpaste their poster-work on billboards and walls, sometimes actively incorporating their surroundings into the piece. In Williamsburg you will enjoy a roundup of the most innovative wheatpaste artists:
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Artist: Faile (wheatpaste)
Location: Wythe and North 3rd (on Wythe) |
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Artist: Faile (wheatpaste)
Location: Wythe and North 3rd (on Wythe) |
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Artist: Obey (wheatpaste)
Location: North 6th bet. Wythe and Kent |
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Artist: Elbow Toe (wheatpaste)
Location: North 6th bet. Wythe and Kent |
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Artist: Judith Supine (wheatpaste)
Location: Meeker Avenue and North 7th (On North 7th) |
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Artist: OHM (wheatpaste)
Location: Meeker Avenue and North 6th (on Meeker) |
How to get there: Take the L train from Union Square to Lorimer St – Metropolitain Ave Station. Then proceed on foot at your discretion with the self-guided tour of the featured graffiti sites. Print out this article and the map below to help guide you to the locations. Please note that graffiti is usually not permanent, so we cannot guarantee that all our sites are still in tact. On the other hand, new art is constantly being created—let us know in the comments if you discover anything new in the area!
Map of Featured Artwork
View or Print Larger Map
Photos: Courtesy Arturo Conde
T.KID (PIECE)
GHOST (PIECE)
OS GEMEOS (PIECE)
ARMER (PIECE)
PEEK - FUNK (PINK & SMITH) (PIECE)
DIVA (PIECE)
AERO - TEO (THROW UP)
MOTUG - EWOK (MURAL)
MOTUG (MURAL)
MOTUG - EWOK (MURAL)
MOTUG - OBEY (MURAL)
MOTUG (MURAL)
R.ROBOTS (MURAL)
R.ROBOTS 2 (MURAL)
NICK WALKER (PAINT - STENCIL)
C215 (STENCIL) FIREBOX
C215 (STENCIL) STAIRCASE
NICK WALKER (STENCIL)
C215 (STENCIL) Gas Station
C215 (STENCIL) FIRE HYDRANT
FAILE 1 (WHEATPASTE)
FAILE 2 (WHEATPASTE)
OBEY (WHEATPASTE)
ELBOW TOE (WHEATPASTE)
JUDITH SUPINE (WHEATPASTE)
OHM (WHEATPASTE)
Map It |
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December 8th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
This is truly awesome! Such inspiring work.
December 9th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
awesome, condone destroying someone else’s property. what do we tell the homeowner’s that don’t want their property destroyed, it’s ok b/c it’s art?! should every homeowner who’s had his property vandalized walk into all the galleries and artistically express how they feel, after some ‘ARTIST/IDIOT’ paints their freshly cleaned wall? WOULD IT BE CALLED ART IF THEY PAINTED OVER SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK?
December 9th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
i don’t think these were homes that were painted on. don’t worry, no homeowners were harmed by this art.
and in some cases, businesses actually commission these artists to paint on their walls. why? because it IS awesome and it draws people to the building.
December 9th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
hey, jt, if they had permission or were commissioned i think that’s great too, but walk around and you’ll see what i’m talking about and i guarantee that was not the case especially on the public property or the public part applies only to the person who paints first.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Well, there’s a big difference between graffiti ARTISTS and kids with spray paint. The latter would tell you they’re an artist but they can barely tag their own name. Yes, a tag in a single color in a distasteful location (IE. the front of someone’s house/brownstone/residential building) sucks. But this is art and it is incredible what they can accomplish with Krylon or wheatpaste and a mischievous spirit.
Besides, NYC wouldn’t be NYC without a little crime and graffiti. http://www.flickr.com/toddwshaffer
December 10th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Good article. I am not going to addresss the art/graff argument because unless its commissioned its still vandalism… 4 da masses: if they painted over someone elses work it would be called BEEF, and it can get serious. The thing I do want to stress is that it is considered verboten to disclose locations of work. A: its part of the fun in “finding” B: It helps keep the community tight as you have to get to know the artists or participate in order to know the locations and C: as with many high profile street artists like REVS, Gore-B, PS…… you would be amazed that people find the spots then take the work in an attempt to add the pieces to their “collection” or sell them. Please keep this in mind. Thanks. Get up, stay high! AnerA elc
December 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
[...] A Self-Guided Brooklyn Graffiti Tour (Street Art in Williamsburg, NYC) | offManhattan Once deemed as a subversive act by many detractors, graffiti has evolved into a popular art form that’s gained wide recognition in international galleries and influenced marketing campaigns, graphic designers, and the fashion industry. And while London has replaced New York at the forefront of street art, Williamsburg has remained a fertile ground for experimental graffiti. (tags: graffiti art brooklyn) [...]
December 11th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
That’s awesome! I can’t wait til I’m back in Brooklyn to go look at all this work! Truly amazing.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:49 am
[...] Street art in williamsburg is everywhere, but if you don’t live in the neighborhood, it might be hard to find some of the more notable pieces by well known artists. Someone has been kind enough to take the time to put together a street art map of williamsburg, located here. [...]
December 15th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
HI IM JSTACK FROM BROOKLYN I HAVE A LOT OF FRIEND INTO graffiti AND WILL LIKE TO TAKE PART OF YOUR graffiti-tour THANK U
December 18th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
[...] Once deemed as a subversive act by many detractors, graffiti has evolved into a popular art form that’s gained wide recognition in international galleries and influenced marketing campaigns, graphic designers, and the fashion industry. And while London has replaced New York at the forefront of street art, Williamsburg has remained a fertile ground for experimental graffiti…full article here [...]
December 19th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
fantastic! will definitely have to venture out to brooklyn for this.
December 21st, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Outstanding blog entry – great flickz. if you are looking for more info on graffiti and street art and stencil tips tricks techniques (and secrets) check out the following: http://tr.im/1w0g
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I can’t wait to get back from Seattle to do this tour. The article is inspiring and the photos inviting.
We need to be open to new definitions of art. Is something evoked in the viewer? Are we transported into another’s reality?
I think the person who commented that as long as the art is vandalism of someone’s property, the ethics are still questionable.
Off Manhattan is the vehicle we all need to broaden our experience of NY.
Thanks for opening up the boarders of NY.
January 4th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
[...] Off Manhattan have posted some excellent pieces (we tried not to post the same, see??) – their walking tour is worth a [...]
January 16th, 2009 at 12:50 am
[...] is full of artists. Every day, walking down Bedford Avenue, you’re confronted by posters, graffiti art, and talking heads–all the product of someone’s kaleidoscopic mind. And somehow, [...]
February 1st, 2009 at 4:17 am
that barack obama with the crip tag inside the collar classic
crip is the original Graff King of WillieBee
my big homie does it again
February 18th, 2009 at 4:45 am
he says he has mad love for me like graffiti in brooklyn.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:04 am
[...] P.D.2: Una curiosidad: una guía de graffiti en Brooklyn. [...]
August 4th, 2009 at 1:05 am
[...] a green-leaning guide to recreation in the tri-state area. In December, they published a walking tour of Brooklyn graffiti with images of what you might find, and a map. Bring your camera for that [...]
January 11th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Hi! i’m writing an article for an NY based israeli newspaper (its called yedioth aharonoth, circulation of 150,000)about street art in NY. i’de love to talk 2 u. pls contact me @: orlisanto@gmail.com
January 20th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
[...] 70s—this head-spinning mural by Ewok is in Williamsburg (map), Brooklyn, New York. (Wikipedia, oM, [...]