A free, outdoor street art gallery lures visitors to Bushwick
Known for warehouse parties, skyrocketing rents and artist studios, Bushwick may be the best place to see street art in New York City.
On a brisk winter Saturday, I boarded the L train to visit the Parallel Art Space gallery on the border of Bushwick, Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens. Getting off at the Jefferson stop, the 7th stop into Brooklyn from Manhattan, I was confronted by a sea of street murals that continued as far as the eye could see.
Unbeknownst to me, I had stumbled onto the outdoor street art gallery known as the Bushwick Collective, founded a few years ago by Brooklyn native Joseph Ficalora. (Read more about the collective in this NY Times article).
The walk to Parallel Art Space from the subway is only 0.2 miles and should have taken 4 minutes, according to Google Maps. However, I challenge anyone to walk down Troutman Street without stopping repeatedly to snap photos and marvel at the colorful murals. From urban bears to eviscerated cows, no subject is too bizarre for the street artists working in this corner of Brooklyn. Unsurprisingly, I was a bit late for my appointment!
Scroll down for my favorite work on Troutman Street. If you’d like to visit this street art Mecca on your own, make sure to bring a camera and allow plenty of time for exploring the side streets.
Art is everywhere in Bushwick
Just your everyday street scene…
Bear attack in Brooklyn
Cow anatomy lesson by Mr. Prvrt
Stencil art by Blek le Rat
‘Never let go’ by Bushwick Collective (Joe Iurato)
Creative mail slot by Bushwick Collective
Colorful mural by Sheryo
Naughty Mickey Mouse gesture & a Paola Beck portrait
My final destination: Parallel Art Space studio
What’s your favorite place to see NYC street art?
Share your picks with other readers by leaving a comment below!
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So colorful and creative! I especially like that colorful mural by Sheryo. When I ever visit NY I will definitely visit Bushwick. I guess it would be wise for me not to make an appointment while being there haha. I would loose track of time and scroll down the streets for hours.
Haha- definitely leave plenty of time to explore Bushwick’s street art! Just went again last night and spotted even more creative work.
Hi. The artistic creations are great, and add to the street scene. Some graffiti are however not desirable. In my country, art works like these are (sorry to say) not welcome and may attract serious criminal sanctions!
Thanks for your comment! Street art / graffiti is incredible popular right now in the US, and NYC is a great place to see it.
Pretty impressive! Great photos, too. Such talented artists in Brooklyn…
Totally! There are so many talented artists in Bushwick right now. Love the energy!
So very hipster! I must confess I wouldn’t go out to Bushwick to see street art but this is cool!
Charu, you should totally go to Bushwick to see the street art! Bring the baby too 🙂 There are cute cafes here and a ton of artist studios. I saw a restaurant was offering vegan brunch too!
Bushwick is where I tend to live when I am in NYC. Cheap rent, and street art to distract you from all the garbage in the street (;
Garbage and art– the perfect combo 😉
I love the Bushwick Collective. Very sad that 5 Pointz is gone in Queens, but glad to see street art popping up around in other places in the city 😀