PHOTOS: Is Bushwick the best place to see street art in NYC?

A free, outdoor street art gallery lures visitors to Bushwick

Street art portraits on Troutman Street #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

Artist playground: Every corner of Bushwick near Jefferson Street L stop is covered in art

Just your everyday street scene…

The Jefferson L train stop is a street artist haven!

Bear attack in Brooklyn

Bears attack Bklyn! Troutman Street #streetart

Cow anatomy lesson by Mr. Prvrt

Cow anatomy lesson on Troutman Street #streetart

Stencil art by Blek le Rat

Blek le Rat stencil art in Bushwick

‘Never let go’ by Bushwick Collective (Joe Iurato)

"Never let go" - Bushwick street art

Creative mail slot by Bushwick Collective

Creative mail slot on Troutmam Street #streetart

Colorful mural by Sheryo

Shades of Ren and Stimpy? Street art in Bushwick

Naughty Mickey Mouse gesture & a Paola Beck portrait

Rude Mickey Mouse gestures immortalized in Brooklyn street art

My final destination: Parallel Art Space studio

Parallel Arts Space gallery in Ridgewood

What’s your favorite place to see NYC street art?

Share your picks with other readers by leaving a comment below!

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.