Best Graffiti in NYC to See From Street Art Murals to Bubble Tags (2024)

1.Banksy, Hammer Boy

Banksy famously loves New York City—in 2013, he staged a monthlong, citywide “show” called “Better Out Than In”—but most of his work here has been covered over, torn down to be sold or defaced by taggers. At least this modest stencil piece on the Upper West Side is still intact, thanks to the building owner, who installed a Plexiglas shield in an act of guerilla art preservation.

79th St between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave

2.First Street Green Art Park

The creativity of the East Village spills out onto the walls at theFirst Street Green Art Park. The open art space gives artists and designers space to show off their murals, sculptures and other installations as well as hold performances for the neighborhood. Each time you go to this lesser-known spot should be a different experience as murals change often. Plus, during the warmer months, its volunteers hold programming from art workshops to live music. Find out what's going on currentlyhere.

3.11th Street and First Avenue

A four-story building in the East Village has been host to several magnificent and colorful portrait murals including Michael Jackson, Ghandi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which was the most recentcurated by the public art charityLISA Project NYC.

4.Big Pun Memorial Mural

This tribute to the beloved Puerto-Rican rapper Big Pun (aka Big Punisher, aka Christopher Lee Rios) who passed away in 2000 was created by Bronx-based graffiti artists Tats Cru, and gets repainted annually on Pun’s birthday, Nov 10. It’s a fitting reminder of the deep ties between the community and Pun, who was the first Latino rapper certified platinum as a solo act.

910 Rogers Place, Bronx

5.The Audubon Mural Project

The Audubon Society has been partnering with the Gitler &_____ Gallery in Hamilton Heights to commission street art murals around Upper Manhattan dedicated to birds threatened by climate change. Their fine feathery plumage makes for eye-popping images, and you can find out where to see them by downloading this map from the project’s website.

Hamilton Heights and Washington Heights (audubon.org)

6.Bronx Wall of Fame

This epic South Bronx block is only unofficially dubbed the Wall of Fame. That’s too bad since it could benefit from landmark status; plans are afoot to raze this community beacon in favor of affordable housing. The wall’s pedigree is indisputable: Late Queens legend Iz the Wiz, Long Island’s Phetus and L.A.’s MSK crew represent a tiny fraction of the artists who’ve painted remarkable wild styles, fills, murals and messages across its bricks. The clock is ticking for you to see history before those bricks come crashing down.

E 173rd St at West Farms Rd, Bronx

7.The Houston Bowery Wall

Keith Haring was the first big name to paint this wall, in 1982, but its generous surface area and enviable location have inspired an untold number of artists to follow his lead, including legends like Banksy, JR and Shepard Fairey/ The latest installment is by Raul Ayala with Groundswell and Goldman Global Arts.

Houston St at Bowery

8.The Bushwick Collective

Bushwick native Joe Ficalora has made his neighborhood a go-to by transforming it into a sprawling, 12-square-block outdoor museum that features artists from around the world. While strolling the streets just off the Jefferson Street L train stop, keep an eye out for a moving, photorealistic portrait by the rising Sicilian duo Rosk&Loste, as wellas a Wu-Tang Clan illustration by@7lineartstudio.

Starts at Troutman St and St. Nicholas Ave

9.Graffiti Hall of Fame

Founded in 1980 by activist Ray “Sting Ray” Rodriguez as a way to promote graffiti’s positive attributes, this East Harlem wall has evolved into a place where classic graf styles—and the hip-hop culture they’re associated with—can thrive. The massive mural spelling HARLEM doubles as a storybook tour through the city’s street-art history.

106th St at Park Ave

10.Johnson Avenue

This industrial block in Bushwick offers prime wall space for street artists from around the world including right here in NYC. A stroll past the warehouses along the avenue might lead you past colorful murals by the likes of Rime (aka Jersey Joe), Swiss artist Tones One and Host 18.

Johnson Avenue off Bogart Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn

11.2 World Trade Center

12.Hunts Point

Longtime Bronx trendsetters Tats Cru (Bio, BG183, Nicer, How and Nosm) found their latest ripe facade in 2008 and invited, among others, old friend Goldie, U.K. stencil pioneer Nick Walker, L.A.’s reputed Seventh Letter crew, Crash and Evoke to paint. Out of respect for the building’s owner, they avoid carving, wheatpaste and overt politicizing, but anything else goes. Check Facebook for their next big artist gathering and perhaps an eventual contribution from original Tats collaborator Fat Joe.

Drake St at Spofford Ave, Bronx (tatscru.net)

13.North 6th St

It’s no secret that Williamsburg’s industrial Northside has been almost entirely reconfigured as a young urban professional’s paradise. But not every abandoned warehouse has been claimed. In recent years, Banksy and Nick Walker have left their unique brand of artful vandalism on this strip, and there are still plenty of throwups, murals and even the odd wild style popping up along the drag—development be damned.

North 6th St between Bedford and Kent Aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

14.Coney Art Walls

Curated by real estate mogul Joseph J. Sitt and superstar art dealer Jeffrey Deitch, this ongoing exhibit still has street cred thanks to its focus on old-school innovators like Lee Quiñones, Crash, Tats Cru and Mister Cartoon. Themost recent batch included a Pop Art–inspired mural by D*Face and a mermaid fantasia by the cheeky duo the London Police.

3050 Stillwell Ave, Coney Island

15.Crack Is Wack

On a Harlem handball court in 1986, Keith Haring threw up this exuberant public service announcement inspired by a studio assistant who had become addicted to the titular drug. While he painted the piece without permission, just as crack was becoming notorious, the work’s message—and Haring’s stature—quickly earned the mural the blessing of the city, which is now restoring it.

128th St at Second Ave

16.100 Gates Project

The storefront gates in question belong to businesses participating in this unique street art program covering the Lower East Side, in which retailers looking for some of that sweet street creed are matched with artists looking for a legally permitted space to do their thing. So far, some 75 plus murals have gone up, ranging from Buff Monster’s elastic flying brain cum cyclops for Bondy's Cameras and Appliance to Billy the artist’s Picassoid faces for Michele Olivieri’s sneaker mecca. A complete rundown on works and locations can be found on the 100 Gates Project website.

Lower East Side (100gatesnyc.com)

17.Along the J/M/Z line