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From the streets to the galleries to the pop culture consciousness, urban art is now everywhere whether you like it or not. And to celebrate the art phenomenon further, the book Beyond the Street: The 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art published by Gestalten is fittingly being released at New York’s Deitch Projects where many of the artists in the book have shown their work over the years.

More on the special book release from the venerable Jonathan LeVine:

“To celebrate the North American release of Beyond the Street: The 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art, Gestalten and Jeffrey Deitch cordially invite you to a book launch at the soon-to-be-closed Deitch Projects in New York City. Come for a chat, mingle and get your book signed by key figures in the world of street and urban art.

CONFIRMED ARTISTS and CONTRIBUTORS ATTENDING INCLUDE:

12ozProphet / Allen Benedikt, Dzine, Elbow-Toe, Faile, Gaia, Henry Chalfant, Jonathan LeVine, José Parlá, Labrona, Logan Hicks, Martha Cooper, MOMO, Patti Astor, Pedro Alonzo, Ron English, Saber, Sweet Toof, WK Interact, Wooster Collective / Marc and Sara Schiller, and more…”

Pages of the incomparable Steve ESPO Powers

The gentleman Jonathan LeVine and his self titled New York gallery

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With Jeffrey Deitch moving to Los Angeles to become the new director of the MOCA effective June 1st, the ubiquitous Shepard Fairey has been tapped to close out New York’s famed Deitch Projects with his latest show titled, May Day.

His work already known and seen everywhere by just about everyone in the world, Shepard has stepped it up these past few years as he starred in our film Beautiful Losers, helped create a pop art icon with his Obama imagery, is the only street artist to have his work hanging in the Smithsonian, gone to war with the Associated Press and most recently starred in Banksy’s doc Exit Through the Gift Shop (coverage here).

But these days you can find Shepard hitting the streets of New York, and hitting them hard as seen in his piece on the infamous Houston and Bowery Street corner (via the always amazing Arrested Motion). If you’re in the New York area it’s a must that you check out Shepard whether it be at the last Deitch show (which is history in itself) or inevitably on the streets (where his own rich history was created).

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Rosson Crow, the talented young woman from Texas, goes boy crazy as her show Bowery Boys “explores the history of “bad boys” in underground art and as an agent of culture in New York City”. Opening tomorrow night at New York’s Deitch Projects.

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The brilliant Brazilian twin graffiti artists known as Os Gêmeos do D.I.Y. America for Aaron Rose’s latest installment for WKE.

Click here or the image below to see the twins in action in Episode five of D.I.Y. America.

An excerpt from the D.I.Y. America page:

“Os Gêmeos (Portuguese for “The Twins”) are identical twin brothers from São Paulo, Brazil. They started painting graffiti in 1987 and gradually became a major influence in the local scene, helping to define Brazil’s own style. Stylistically, Os Gêmeos are heavily influenced by the cryptic art of the São Paulo–based pixação graffiti movement as well as American hip-hop, which the twins grew up with in Brazil.”

Also…Flashback to 2008 for Cool Hunting’s piece on Os Gêmeos as they prepped their legendary Deitch Projects show beautifully filmed by the good man Tobin Yelland.

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Now that the excess known as Art Basel Miami Beach is all but wrapped up and ready to ship to rich art collectors around the world, the most interesting piece of Basel news I’ve come across was Barry McGee’s (TWIST) venture down to the Southeast. Barry’s reluctant art star status is well documented, so seeing him join in on the Miami madness was surprising at first but upon seeing the project he was working on it made more sense: a group of 15 influential artists from around the world brought together by long-time supporter Jeffrey Deitch of New York’s famed Deitch Projects to do what they please on warehouse walls in Miami’s Wynwood art district for The Wynwood Walls Outdoor Mural Project.

Joining McGee in the mural making were respected street artists and legends including Futura, OS Gemeos with Nina and Finok, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, David Ellis, Clare Rojas, Kenny Scharf, Aiko, Jim Drain, Stelios Faitakis, Nunca, Ara Peterson, and Ben Wolf.

(all photos courtesy of Martha Cooper and Deitch Projects)

Also there documenting the artistry was another legend, photographer Martha Cooper best known for exposing the world to the New York graffiti scene during the 70’s and 80’s. You can see more of her photos on Deitch here. And also more Martha photos of Barry here on Juztapoz.

one of the OS Gemeos twins

Futura

Shepard Fairey

Swoon, David Ellis and Ben Wolf

Kenny Scharf

Although the art fair has passed, The Wynwood Walls remain for public viewing ongoing on Tuesday through Saturdays from 12–8pm at NW 26th Street & 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33127.

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