37 Best Places to See Stunning Street Art In NYC

Written By Todd Maurer
 
By Todd Maurer | Updated: December 13, 2023

Street art was born in NYC during the 1970s when the city was bankrupt and overrun by crime. Almost as a response to the chaos, young kids from the Bronx and Brooklyn started bombing subway cars and buildings with graffiti tags. Rather than vandalism, street graffiti has been considered a unique symbol of New York. The best boroughs to see them are Williamsburg and The Bronx, but you don’t need to travel far to see them. Here are the best street art in NYC.

1: “Hammer Boy” by Banksy

 

The “Hammer Boy” art on a building on the UWS of Manhattan.

 

If you have shopped at the Trader Joe’s on 72nd Street and Broadway, you might have seen this graffiti by Banksy, an anonymous England-based street artist who famously loves New York City. Unfortunately, most of his works have been covered or torn down to be sold or defaced by taggers. This modest stencil piece, “Hammer Boy,” is probably one of a few that is still intact thanks to the building owner, who installed a Plexiglas shield to protect it.

2: Two World Trade Center

The colorful mural at 2 World Trade Center.

Walk out of The Oculus, an aesthetically stunning transit hub, through its southern exit, and you’ll have 2 World Trade Center on your left. Its foundation is covered by a metal shed of bright images inspired by pop art and anime, creating a welcome oasis of color in the Financial District, where the palette is very much muted. This mural was created by Todd Gray, Hektad, BoogieRez, Stickymonger, and husband-and-wife duo Chinon Maria and Sebastian Mitre. It is always changing, so you’ll see something different each time you visit.

3: “Crack Is Wack”

“Crack Is Wack” mural in NYC.

On a handball court in Harlem, you will find this famous “Crack Is Wack” mural created by American artist Keith Haring. While he painted the piece without permission, the work’s message quickly earned the mural a blessing of the city. Unfortunately, Keith passed away on February 16, 1990, and this piece is a lasting reminder of his art, which sent out a powerful message that “crack is bad and should be avoided” and continues to instruct and inspire through its wit and vibrancy.

4: 100 Gates Project

  • Learn more about the project here.

One of the 100 Gates Project murals in the Lower East Side.

If you run a business in the Lower East Side and want a free way to beautify your storefront gate, participate in the 100 Gates Project, which connects local artists looking for a legally permitted space to showcase their talent. So far, over 75 murals have been up in this neighborhood, ranging from Buff Monster’s elastic flying brain cum cyclops for Bondy Export Corporation to Billy the Artist’s Picasso faces for Michele Olivieri’s sneaker mecca.

They have turned this neighborhood into an open-air gallery that emerges at night. The project has now expanded outside the Lower East Side to include East Harlem, the North Shore on Staten Island, and the Flatbush area of Brooklyn.

5: “New York” at Twin Marquis Inc.

The vibrant “New York” mural by Glossblack.

If you need additional proof that most street artists love New York City deeply, look no further than this eye-catching “New York” mural. It was created in March 2018 by Philadelphia-based artist Glossblack at the original Lower East Side location of Twin Marquis Inc., a manufacturer of fresh Asian noodles.

6: The High Line

“I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door” mural in the High Line. Photo by The High Line

Snaking above the industrial West Side neighborhood is a 1.45-mile-long park, the famous High Line, from where you will be overlooking the beautiful Hudson River, massive murals, and the Downtown skyline. This spot is most popular during the warm months when the flowers and plants are in full bloom, and lots of art installations begin to change. One of our favorites over the years is “I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door” by artist Dorothy Iannone, which is dedicated to the Statue of Liberty and the Emma Lazarus poem.

7: Audubon Mural Project

  • Location: learn more about the project here.

Audubon Mural Project mural that features endangered birds in North America. Photo by Robby Virus/Flickr

Global warming is real, and artists from Audubon Mural Project have come up with creative ways to encourage people to act to stop it. Along Broadway from 133rd Street to 165th Street in northern Manhattan, you will see an untold number of beautiful birds adorning the walls and gates of buildings. These murals, commissioned by the National Audubon Society and Gitler &_____ Gallery, represent over 300 North American bird species threatened by global warming. Over 148 bird species have been painted, with more to come!

8: Bowery Graffiti Wall

The latest mural at Bowery Graffiti Wall.

On the corner of Houston and the Bowery is a concrete wall slab, which used to be a source of illegal graffiti and commercial advertisements until 2008, when artist Jeffery Deitch and the wall’s owner, Tony Goldman, started commissioning murals. Over the years, this wall has been painted by an untold number of artists, including legends like Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and JR, who all followed the lead of American artist Keith Haring, who painted an original mural as a gift to the community in the late 1970s.

The latest installment is a colorful world introduced by a Brooklyn-based Japanese artist, Tomokazu Matsuyama, who spent about two weeks working on this piece. However, it was vandalized only a few days after completion by two large tags.

9: Graffiti Hall of Fame

The 2014 edition of Graffiti Hall of Fame. Photo by j-No/Flickr

Back in the 1970s, the entire Jackie Robinson Educational Complex in Harlem was a place for up-and-coming graffiti artists to hone their craft in a safe environment. There were four walls to play with. Now, the only wall they use is the street-facing boundary of the schoolyard. The site’s motto is “Strictly Kings and Better,” and artists from all over the world come to compete for a precious spot on the wall. While exploring the area, you’ll find art on every corner, from yarn-bombed flowers on chain-link fences to murals celebrating the lives of Latin music legends.

10: “Mother Teresa and Gandhi” by Kobra

“Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi” mural on a rainy day in NYC.

On 18th Street and Tenth Avenue in Chelsea, you will spot this lovely piece on the side of a building created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra. It is to pay tribute to two great men of humanity: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary granted sainthood for her work ministering to the poor of Calcutta, and Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who led India in its quest for independence from British rule. The best spot to see the artwork is from the High Line.

11: East Village Walls

Cute blue cat mural in East Village.

You may no longer see indie concert venues or dive bars that used to grace the streets of East Village due to the rising rents, but the artistic spirit remains strong thanks to the work of groups like East Village Walls. You will find their colorful murals by artists like Peach Tao, Monks, and BKFoxx all over the neighborhood, with new ones, small or big, popping up all the time.

12: Anthony Bourdain Mural

The mural of Anthony Bourdain in the LES of Manhattan.

In Manhattan’s Lower East Side, you will see this simple beloved mural, created by artist Bradley Theodore in July 2018, a month after Anthony Bourdain, a talented American, passed away. If you love his books or have tasted his cookery, stop by and pay your respects. The street artist later announced his work in an Instagram post captioned: “In a city full of villains, we all need heroes.”

13: The Snoopy Collection

  • Learn more about these murals here

The Snoopy Collection, featuring our psychedelic rocker Snoopy.

Near the Children’s Museum of the Arts in Hudson Square, you will find a world of adorable murals by Peanuts Global Artist Collective that feature your beloved characters from the Peanuts comic strip, ranging from an anime-style Charlie Brown to psychedelic rocker Snoopy with his trusty bird sidekick Woodstock. This is a great spot to bring your kids for an afternoon of fun. The others can be found in Berlin, Mexico City, Paris, Seoul and Tokyo.

14: “Love Wall”

The famous “Love Wall” mural in SoHo.

“Love Wall” was created by accident when self-taught artist James Goldcrown was testing the pressure of spray cans with heart shapes in his studio. He realized these “bleeding hearts” were more popular than any other piece. Now, the mural is one of the city’s most Instagrammable spots, welcoming an untold number of visitors each day. While it might be a cliche, the overlapping rainbow hearts do speak to a sort of desperation for love, and that’s something we can all relate to. In 2016, Henri also created one at Henri Bendel, across from Trump Tower.

15: Centre-fuge Public Art Project

  • Learn more about these murals here

A repainted trailer by Centre-fuge Public Art Project.

In 2011, Lower East Side residents Jonathan Neville and Pebbles Russell tried to combat the negative impacts of construction sites by transforming a trailer that functioned as a temporary office into a rotating street gallery, which artists would repaint every two months. That’s how Centre-fuge Public Art Project started, and so far, it has beautified trailers around NYC and Miami. The project’s goal is to open eyes and minds around the five boroughs through arts and provide opportunities for artists in a more competitive space to express themselves.

16: Lower East Side’s Freeman Alley

Art murals at Lower East Side’s Freeman Alley.

This gem in the Lower East Side can be easily missed if you don’t know its existence. However, thanks to the inconspicuous location, illegal graffiti in the form of tags, stenciling, wheat pasting, and murals can survive the city’s gentrification and proliferate. A small, narrow passage off Rivington Street between Chrystie Street and the Bowery will lead you past restaurants, art galleries, and an untold number of street murals with slight humor and wisdom.

17: “Love Vandal”

“Love Vandal” on 17th Street & 6th Ave, Flatiron District.

This dapper gentleman you see in the picture is The Vandal, a popular character featured in most of Nick Walker’s work. This talented British artist has sold out shows in both London and Los Angeles, where wealthy collectors waited in line for over 24 hours to be among the first to get his latest print editions. You can find this piece in a nondescript parking lot on the corner of 17th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, which also showcases Nick Walker’s love for New York.

18: First Street Green Art Park

Whimsical murals at First Street Green Art Park in the LES.

First Street Garden Art Park in the LES has been a hotbed of NYC’s vibrant cultural community for decades. You can find the entrance to the park on the corner of Houston Street and 2nd Avenue. This public space supports emerging artists who work with different mediums — expect to see large murals, photography, and art installations. There are also community and cultural events.

19: rag & bone Houston Street

A red apple mural on one side of the rag & bone store.

On one side of the rag & bone store in Lower Manhattan, you will find this beautiful mural that changes regularly. Marcus Wainwright, rag & bone’s CEO, Founder and Creative Director, is a big supporter of the arts, so when the store opened with a large blank wall adjacent to the entrance, he knew it would be a perfect spot for murals — and just like that, The Houston Project started. So far, the project has invited 42 artists to make a splash on the wall, including Typoe, Rainer Judd, Jerkface, and James Goldcrown.

20: Freedom Tunnel

“The Coca-Cola Mural” in the Freedom Tunnel.

Beneath Riverside Park on the Upper West Side, the Freedom Tunnel is a secret spot for the creative type to throw up their signature pieces. Those willing to take the strenuous hike underground will be rewarded with a striking series of murals by artists led by painter and graffiti artist Chris Pape. His satirical “There’s No Way Like the American Way,” aka “The Coca-Cola Mural,” still stands today, inspired by the sensational ads in the 80s and 90s and intended to raise awareness of the displaced homeless in the neighborhood.

21: LISA Project NYC

  • Learn more about these murals here.

 

The mural of Audrey Hepburn in Little Italy. Photo by Paul Katcher/Flickr

 

LISA Project NYC strives to bring street artists to Little Italy and beyond to paint murals on the walls of participating businesses and residential buildings, mostly along historic Mulberry Street. They change periodically, so you will see something different each time you visit. Highlights include the one of Audrey Hepburn, “Liberty” by Triston Eaton, and “Allure of the Sea” by Logan Hicks, as well as works by Steph Burr, Jeromy Velasco, and Matt O’Connor.

22: “Os Gemeos Mural”

The “Os Gemeos Mural” in East Village. Photo by Luna Park

Painted in 2015 by Brazilian artist duo Os Gemeos, this massive mural at 2nd Avenue and 1st Street in East Village is dedicated to people who have made and continue to keep real hip-hop alive. Look closely, and you’ll see the little girl’s shirt is embellished with a hipster Statue of Liberty with a spray paint can in her hand, and the boombox plays “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa.

23: The Tiger Near Fulton Street

A ferocious, handsome tiger mural near Fulton Street.

We found this ferocious, handsome tiger mural on our way to the Brooklyn Bridge on a Sunday afternoon. It is painted on a garage door of a firehouse that belongs to Engine 6 in Lower Manhattan. While it doesn’t share the fame as other murals on this list, we love it for the vibrant red and orange colors, saluting the bravery and selflessness of firefighters across the world.

24: Desigual Flagship Store

 

The multi-colored mural on the facade of the Desigual store in Herald Square.

 

Desigual has reopened its flagship store in New York — with a new face by Santander artist Okuda San Miguel, known for his distinct multicolored style. This large mural can be found on the corner of 6th Ave and 35th Street, in the heart of Herald Square. Decorated with all sorts of textures, colors, prints, and hybrid creatures, this mural on the facade of the brand’s store is a gift from Desigual to the city and a tribute to the multiculturalism, art, and color of the Big Apple.

25: Chinatown Buff Monster

The colorful Buff Monster mural in Chinatown, Manhattan.

Bright colors, bold lines, and happy characters living in bubbly landscapes — this colorful mural by Buff Monster is here to make Chinatown a better place. Born and raised in Hawaii, the artist draws his inspiration from heavy metal music, ice cream, pop art, Japanese culture, and graffiti. For over 15 years, he has worked with leading curators to paint murals all over the world and is included in Banksy’s Oscar-nominated documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop.

You can find his work in galleries, too, and the Bristol City Museum has one of his paintings in its permanent collection. Buff Monster also has a variety of limited-edition collectibles, including vinyl and resin toys, prints, shirts, and trading cards.

26: Gucci Art Wall

 

Gucci Art Wall in SoHo.

 

Starting in April 2021, you will see a wall of blooming spring flowers in one of SoHo’s parking lots from painter and textile artist Ken Scott. The painting is sourced from his archives and sponsored by Gucci’s Art Walls project, which also sees artworks painted on facades in Milan, London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The collaboration first came into bloom for the brand’s 2021 “Epilogue” collection, which features Scott’s signature floral designs, from peonies to roses and poppies and sunflowers, on accessories, footwear, and ready-to-wear.

27: The Bushwick Collective

The Bushwick Collective creative street murals.

This Brooklyn gem is the result of a collaboration of street artists from around the world, led by the Bushwick native Joe Ficalora. He started commissioning the murals as a way to reclaim the neighborhood from the painful memories of his past and, later, in 2011, to raise money for kids with brain tumors. It is now one of the city’s most popular cultural destinations, featuring over 50 murals, and the number is still growing. You are also welcome to come and watch the masters at work during the Bushwick Collective Block party each June.

28: Coney Art Walls

Creepy animated characters featured in Coney Art Walls.

Every summer, the seaside amusement park of Coney Island is transformed by Coney Art Walls into an outdoor museum with over 30 50,000-square-foot murals. You will find everything from whimsical sideshow performers to psychedelic backdrops, fearsome creatures straight out of H.P. Lovecraft stories, and racing hot dogs. It is like Luna Park — there is something for everyone.

Read More: Best Things to Do on Coney Island in Brooklyn

29: Williamsburg

R.Robots’s mural in Willamsburg, Brooklyn.

Williamsburg is one of the best neighborhoods to see amazing street art in New York City. Its low cost of living has long beckoned “starving” artists for decades, ultimately leading to this area becoming a breeding ground for graffiti and street art. Expect to see works by icons like Os Gemeos at North Third Street and Wythe Avenue, R. Robots at North Third Street and Bedford Avenue, and Nick Walker at Roebling Street and Metropolitan Avenue.

30: DUMBO Walls

Colorful MOMO mural at DUMBO Walls in Brooklyn.

Started in 2012 by NYCDOT and a few management companies, the murals at Dumbo Walls highlight the entry points to the neighborhood and celebrate the various types of artists drawn to DUMBO, including CAM, DALeast, Eltono, Shepard Fairey, Faith47, MOMO, Stefan Sagmeister, and Yuko Shimizu.

31: Johnson Avenue

A colorful mural along Johnson Avenue in Brooklyn.

This industrial block in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood offers prime wall space for street artists around the world to showcase their talent. A stroll past the warehouses along the avenue will lead you past beautiful works by artists like Rime (aka Jersey Joe), Tones One, and Host 18.

32: Along MTA’s J, A & M Line

Murals along MTA’s J, A & M Line in Brooklyn.

If you ride the train on J, M, or Z Line, be sure to have a quick stop near Bushwick and appreciate the many tags, throw-ups, and murals adorning the neighborhood. The locals also started a community called JMZ Walls, where artists and supportive property owners work together to provide amazing sights to the residents of this increasingly hip neighborhood.

33: Big Pun Mural

The mural of Puerto Rican singer Big Pun in The Bronx.

Created by Tats Cru, a group of Bronx-based graffiti artists turned professional muralists, the mural, stretched along the side of a jewelry shop across the Bronx River, is dedicated to Big Pun, the Bronx-born and first Puerto Rican hip-hop artist discovered by fellow Bronx rapper Fat Joe to go platinum. Every year, on Big Pun’s birthday in November, the wall will get an update.

34: Hunts Point

Hunts Point mural that features some of your beloved childhood characters.

At the Hunts Point peninsula, you will discover a vast array of murals created by The Point’s “Village of Murals” project. Its goal is to make public art that defines safe pedestrian paths, supports the cultivation and preservation of South Bronx culture, and brings the arts to Hunts Point residents.

35: King of NY (Biggie Memorial)

The “King of NY” mural in The Bronx.

On one side of a Bed-Stuy residential building at Bedford Avenue and Quincy Street, you’ll find Brooklyn’s legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G., who stands three stories tall. Titled the “King of NY” mural, the tribute was created in 2015 by Naoufal “Rocko” Alaoui and Scott “Zimer” Zimmerman. It was threatened by a proposed renovation in 2017, but an outcry from fans eventually saved it.

36: Tuff City Tattoos

A dragon mural that graces the wall of Tuff City.

At the back of this tattoo shop is a 45-foot subway train car replica that provides a canvas for local artists to showcase their talent. Famous artists like Os Gemeos, Cope2, as well as the late Iz the Wiz, have painted at Tuff City.

37: Welling Court Mural Project

Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens.

Since the destruction of 5Pointz, a famous graffiti spot in Long Island City, the Welling Court Mural Project has become the go-to spot for street artists in Queens. Here, you will step into a colorful world of around 130 murals painted by a mix of legendary artists and emerging talents, including Abe Lincoln Jr., Kid Lew, Praxis, SpazeCraft, Royal KingBee, and TooFly.

Alright, these are some of the most beautiful street art in New York City. Do you know any that should be on this list? Let us know.


 

Todd Maurer

I am Todd Maurer, founder of The Exploreist. I graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and from Columbia University with a master’s degree in digital marketing. My work has been featured on Yahoo, Digital Journal, HubSpot, The World and Then Some, Elle Decor Magazine, Bucket List Journey, and more. I have been working as a writer and editor for over 8 years, since I started in 2016, focusing on travel and entertainment topics.

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