Alien invasion in the Lower East Side (street art photo of the week)

By
Leslie Koch
– February 24, 2011Posted in: Arts and Culture, Street Art

Is it a surfboard? An alien? A comic book character?

I’m frequently asked these questions about my Twitter avatar, which shows a blue blob with a single eye and a mischievous smile:

Alien street art on the Lower East Side

I snapped the photo this summer on a stroll through the Lower East Side and Chinatown. I was jonesing for a bubble tea at Ten Ren Tea Time on Mott Street, and decided to walk there from the East Village.

The sun was shining, the streets were buzzing with activity, and I wanted an excuse to wear my favorite (and little-used) orange tank top.

I always keep an eye out for street art and bring my trusty Canon G11 when I roam the city streets. But I didn’t expect to find this clever graffiti art on Houston Street!

Street art on Houston Street

This adorable blue alien covers about a third of a block on Houston Street.

Something about this work makes me smile; when I look into Mr. Blob’s eye, I feel like a child watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Street art on Houston Street

I’m not sure who created this masterpiece, and a Google search did not turn up any leads. The main clue is a cryptic signature:

2501 / N.Y. 08 / Sk vB / PiF

Perhaps it is written in an alien tongue?

Street art on Houston Street

The artwork has been covered by scaffolding for ages. I kind of like the plywood and metal bars that obscure this street art; they make it seem like you are “discovering” a hidden work or art for the first time.

I felt like the urban, female version of Indiana Jones when I stumbled across it!

Street art on Houston Street

The street mural is actually quite complicated. The alien is joined by several fluffy creatures that look like silk worms and doughnuts. The bright colors and bubble shapes remind me of Keith Haring‘s New York City graffiti.

Street art on Houston Street

At the end of the mural there is another clue that hints at the artist’s identity. Written in glowing green letters, the text reads:

TO MY SiSTA iLLY ♥

It’s heartwarming to know this creative artwork was inspired by the artist’s love for his (her?) sister.

If you know who created this masterpiece, please leave a comment below!

***

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About Leslie Koch

I'm a New Yorker with a passion for travel and art. I founded DowntownTraveler.com after returning from a year-long backpacking trip around the world. Find me on Twitter at @leslietravel.

22 Comments

  1. Reply
    Alyson Smith
    Posted February 25, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    I love Mr. Blob and his “eye”. I usually associate you two together now as a couple when you write your posts. Who knew there was such an expansive street art mural to go with him!

    • Reply
      Leslie Koch
      Posted February 25, 2011 at 8:45 AM

      I was surprised how detailed the mural is! It’s so colorful, it makes me smile when I pass it 🙂

  2. Reply
    Dave from The Longest Way Home
    Posted February 25, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    Finally the answer to the great avatar question!! Great stuff. I really like street art. In many big cities it’s all grey and nasty looking walls.

    Street art really adds a certain “soul” element to a city. I wish more city officials would see this, rather than wash them away!

    • Reply
      Leslie Koch
      Posted February 25, 2011 at 8:52 AM

      So true! Have you seen any interesting street art in your travels or your current home in Malaysia?

  3. Reply
    Ted Nelson
    Posted February 25, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    I thought this was from an upcoming remake of the movie Mars needs women. I was looking forward to the movie, but now I see it is only street art.

  4. Reply
    Juno
    Posted February 25, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Oh there’s much more than I knew! 🙂 I love the color. and the possibility of Alien living as our neighbor. 🙂

  5. Reply
    Sarah Wu
    Posted February 25, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    So cute, it reminded me of Monster Inc too. hahah maybe bczu he’s blue.

    • Reply
      Leslie Koch
      Posted February 27, 2011 at 4:36 PM

      Good point! I like this artwork because it’s so cheerful and bright 🙂

  6. Reply
    santafetraveler
    Posted February 25, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    Great street art. NY has such vitality!

  7. Reply
    Sunny in FL
    Posted February 26, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    Great article on Mr. Blob. He looks like a cross between an illustration in a children’s book and a creature in a horror movie. Hope you discover the artist!

  8. Reply
    Wilson Usman
    Posted February 27, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    this is what I love the most about NY, people are artistic and free, I also like the inspiration behind it. I find a lot of inspiration from my two sisters all the time to when I write, they just crack me up sometimes though.

    He really seemed to have put a lot of effort into this mural, a little crazy, but hey…that’s what art is about right?

    Oh and I don’t know who the artist is, and we’ll probably wont know either I bet.

  9. Reply
    iamthewitch
    Posted February 28, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    Ah so that’s how your avatar look like up close! I’ve always only seen a small thumbnail version of it and wondered what or who it was you were taking picture with! 🙂 It’s heartwarming to know that the gorgeous artwork was for someone’s sister. I can feel the love already 😉

    • Reply
      Leslie Koch
      Posted February 28, 2011 at 12:56 PM

      Hehe. Yes, there’s more to Mr. Blob than meets the eye 🙂

  10. Reply
    Paul
    Posted March 4, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    I think the artist is called 2501
    I saw a simular piece in Amsterdam
    http://www.2501.org.uk/
    http://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfTheStreet

    • Reply
      LeslieTravel
      Posted March 8, 2011 at 5:31 PM

      Hi Paul- thanks for the tip! I checked out 2501’s page and the work seems similar. I didn’t spot any alien art though 😉

  11. Reply
    Maria A
    Posted March 4, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    The blob with the single eye sort of looks like the red alien character from Yo Gabba Gabba who is a blob with a single eye. Now you know what’s on my TV during the day!

    • Reply
      Leslie Koch
      Posted March 4, 2011 at 3:35 PM

      Wow, I never thought of that! Maybe this artist has a little one at home 😉

  12. Reply
    Erica
    Posted March 8, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    I love the color palette in the pink piece. LOVE! Austin is still very behind in regards to street art so I have to enjoy vicariously through you. 🙂

    • Reply
      Leslie Koch
      Posted March 8, 2011 at 10:42 PM

      Thanks Erica! I’m grateful to live in a city with so much colorful street art 🙂

  13. Reply
    Mahfuz
    Posted March 19, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    hey i must say that its amazing.. actually i didn’t watch such arts before..

  14. Reply
    Samantha
    Posted October 10, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    Love the pink one as well. It looks like amoeba’s, and different cell types, etc… mingling. Sort of random/cool for street art.

  15. Reply
    Deb Haugen
    Posted October 10, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    I LOVE this artwork! It would be so much fun to have one room in your house like this, oh o.k. next time it rains! LOL

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