Finding Street Art along the Walls of New York City

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I was on the plane Friday morning heading to New York City when I opened my email to see that the weekly photo challenge was walls. Instantly I knew how I was going to spend my free afternoon in the city. A photo walk.

I did a google search and discovered that New York City has a tremendous wealth of street art along its walls, buildings and store fronts. I love street art and knew that it would be a great way to spend the afternoon exploring some of the back alleys and streets in the heart of Little Italy and NoLlta in search of street art.

I took the subway to Spring Street and got off with a map in hand and a few written notes of where to explore. It was a chilly early spring day yet the sun was shining strong and the city was alive as usual with activity. I could tell it was going to be a great afternoon.

Spring Street Subway stop

Spring Street subway stop offers my first look at urban wall art.

It continually amazes me how incredibly accessible information is today. All you basically need is a cell phone in hand, and you can find anything you need. With a quick google search I found a super cool article on the Huffington Post called “Here’s Your Definite Map to Exploring Street Art in New York City” and used it as my guide. I was amazed how easy it was to find the art and even more hidden treasures that were not mentioned in the brilliant post.

My first stop was to 190 Bowery street, a place that was mentioned in the article. Along the way, I saw tons of street art along the walls of the city and even street art in the making. I was getting excited about my photo walk!

Street art near Little Italy

The random painted doors

Or entirely painted walls of color

I kept walking along the streets of Little Italy around The Bowery and then down Houston Street and continually passed more fantastic street art.

Famous landmark building loaded with art

I was amazed that so much color, creativity and random art exists within such a large city. And I only scratched the surface. There are many more parts of New York City that have amazing art especially in Brooklyn.

Finally I found one of the places mentioned in the article. “Freeman Alley”, a tiny little alley located at 8 Rivington Street which is quaint and full of character.

Spellbound by the color, it was hard to leave this cool, tiny alley in the middle of great big New York. Freeman Alley even dead ends with a place to get a drink!  I just love these little hidden treasures that are behind the scenes.

I continued my walk and never stopped seeking out street art. It was my kind of day!

Even closed off places to the public eye such as this awesome find below. I couldn’t get inside to get pictures without the fence but I felt it gave the art an entirely different dimension and feeling.

Behind the wired fence

Then I arrived at Jones and Layfayette and found this amazing gem behind construction walls. Inside, the walls were covered in art.

I wondered who painted this all?

I am so grateful I began blogging as it truly has changed the way I travel and experiences the world. Four years ago, I never would have done a photo walk in search of a subject. But look at all the beauty I discovered!

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Walls. To view more entries, click here.

 

35 thoughts on “Finding Street Art along the Walls of New York City”

  1. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Wall | Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition

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  3. I love all of these pics. Art EVERYWHERE is something that makes NYC so unique! Another great spot for seeing street art is coming off of the Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn into Chinatown. The rooftops of the buildings there are full of tags and murals. So many people opt to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (understandably, it’s beautiful!) but the Manhattan Bridge has views that are just as beautiful and there is a lot less foot traffic. Plus, there is street art to see. Anyway, loved your post!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! On the article I read I did read about the art along Brooklyn but didn’t have the time to check it out. Next time for sure!!!! Thanks for the idea!

      Reply ↓
  4. loca4motion – Phuket, Thailand – Travel feeds my soul. The kick of living in foreign cultures keeps me awake. Photography, writing and the great outdoors are my passions.
    loca4motion on said:

    I LOVE street art, Nicole & search it out wherever I go! I thought you were in NYC for a romantic getaway with your husband?

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes I am! I got in while he was still meeting with a client as he has been here since Wednesday. 😊

      Reply ↓
      • loca4motion – Phuket, Thailand – Travel feeds my soul. The kick of living in foreign cultures keeps me awake. Photography, writing and the great outdoors are my passions.
        loca4motion on said:

        Sounds like you’re making the most of your time there! Keep having fun!

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Thanks Lucy! Back to soon but a wonderful time. NYC is an amazing place!

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Wonderful! Will check it out now! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  6. I love the mosaic work in the station. A few of the older stations in Sydney, such as Museum and St James, have a similar vintage feel with their old-style tiled signs and pillars.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I do too. The station was so dirty yet the mosaics were amazing. 🙂

      Reply ↓
  7. Jane Lurie – Hello! Berenice Abbott said, “Photography helps people to see.” It is satisfying when someone looks at one of my images and remarks that they now see something in a new way. I hope that my photographs delight and surprise you.
    Jane Lurie on said:

    Street art is interesting to find and shoot. Good ones.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much!

      Reply ↓
  8. galeweithers – Barbados – Barbadian mother and lover of laughter; story teller and best-selling author; happy to follow God's lead and to live my mantra: "you've gotta be a rainbow in the lives of others when it rains."
    galeweithers on said:

    You did a super excellent job and your photos were awesome. I can relate about the blogging comment, but add that it’s been the photo challenges which have made me look at everything with a different eye. I am therefore happy you started blogging as well 😀 Here’s my take on the challenge with photos from a trip to Haiti – enjoy! https://galeweithers.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/wordpress-photo-challenge-wall/

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! I just got back from Haiti myself a month ago! I will check out your post!

      Reply ↓
  9. anotherday2paradise – Durban South Africa and Florida USA – I enjoy writing about absolutely anything, and started blogging with WordPress in 2012. This was my 'Hammock Lady' blog, and I really enjoyed sharing my travels here: http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/ In November 2013, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I started my blog afresh, and here it is. I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to do two round-the-world trips and visit more than forty countries so far. This year we visited our 7th continent, Antarctica. I enjoy photographing wildlife, especially in my backyard in Florida. I was born and brought up in England. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970. We now live in Florida, USA. I have a son and a daughter and five gorgeous grandchildren currently aged between 6 and 21 years. I'm so happy that you've taken the time to visit my blog, and would love for you to join me on my travels. Sylvia.
    anotherday2paradise on said:

    Fabulous images for the challenge, Nicole. You really keep your eyes wide open. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sylvia! I had a lot of fun walking the city in search of these pieces of art! I sure love NYC. Amazing place.

      Reply ↓
  10. Lola Jane – Monterey Peninsula, California – Advocate for planet Earth, grandmother, Philippine born, US Air Force Veteran. I blog about topics related to conservation and the environment, living in the California Central Coast, and Philippine-related development topics, to understand challenges faced by developing nations like my home country. I believe we are all connected -- no matter what part of the world we live in -- and positive that we have the capacity to solve our problems…if we know what they are.
    Lola Jane on said:

    Terrific photos and post, Nicole. How wonderful to have technology to help us find these places — as you did here. Some of the street art have so much energy to it and evoked feelings, maybe similar to like seeing Jackson Pollack paintings.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Lola Jane! I loved all the amazing art and NYC is amazing place. We went to the Metro Museum of Modern Art and I saw a few Pollack paintings which were very impressive. What a great city! And the food!!! Loved all the diversity too. People from everywhere, every shape, color and size. So fun!

      Reply ↓

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  12. nerdtrips – Nerd Trips are excursions to historic locations, particularly presidential homes, birthplaces or burial sites. I also enjoying visiting the homes of authors and poets. The destinations of Nerd Trips are, by definition, not the coolest places to visit. In fact, the name came when someone was mocking a road trip to President Hayes's house! I wish you lots of laughs, loads of learning and safe travels on your own Nerd Trips! Sharon
    nerdtrips on said:

    Beautiful photos!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you! I had so much fun taking them and did it all with my iPhone!

      Reply ↓
  13. Madhu – Madhu is an Interior designer turned travel blogger on a long sabbatical to explore the world. When not crafting stories on The Urge To Wander, she's probably Tweeting @theurgetowander or sharing special moments on instagram.com/theurgetowander
    Madhu on said:

    A fantastic collection street art Nicole! Enjoy your getaway? 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Madhu!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Of course!!!

      Reply ↓

  15. Amazing street art photos in New York. Only an afternoon walking in the city and so many art works you got to see. I love the wall with the hearts all over it. And fenced-up street art was interesting to see. Here in Melbourne, we have a lot of street art in the city, but nothing fenced up like that. I hope to go to New York someday and see it for myself. Great photos, great work 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! I went to Melbourne about 14 years ago and feel in love with the city. I felt like I really belonged there. Such a great place!

      Reply ↓

  16. Pingback: Fresh Fried Plantains on the Streets of Haiti | Thirdeyemom

  17. Inside the Mind of Isadora – Intriguing, sensitive, mysterious, loving, artistic and crackling with excitement for life is a pretty good description of who I am. I just retired from the world of art where I sold my Artfully Designed Handmade Jewelry for 28 years; although, art will always be a part of who I am, no matter what venue I choose to express it in.
    Inside the Mind of Isadora on said:

    Fabulous diversity in all of the photos. They tried to eliminate Graffitii – Street Art – but as they would paint over a mural a few blocks away some others were creating new ones. I guess now it’s just part of the character of the ghettos of NYC. : )

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! I loved the street art. It always fascinates me.

      Reply ↓

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