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Arts & Entertainment

Take A Street Art Tour Of East Harlem

By

Ben Yakas

Published Jun 19, 2015

Modified Jun 19, 2015

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This work memorializes Reggie Andrews, aka Nu Nu. He was shot and killed outside his home on November 12, 2011—his birthday. The artist is Topaz. Located at 111th St and 5th Ave.

 

Jacob Daniels

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By

Ben Yakas

Published Jun 19, 2015

Modified Jun 19, 2015

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Perhaps no NYC neighborhood has more murals per mile than East Harlem. Along with amazing taquerias and the ubiquitous sound of salsa music, these murals are an essential part of El Barrio's character.

The artists are mostly Puerto Rican (but also Ecuadorian or Jewish); there are some very famous names (De La Vega, Don Rimx) and some beloved local artists (Topaz, KingBee); some of the pieces are memorials commissioned by families who lost loved ones (Reggie Andrews, Rudolph "Booga" Wyatt), while others are political statements or conceptual works.

If you wander north of 96th Street and east of 5th Avenue, you can find dozens of these spray-paint masterpieces. Click through above to check out some of our favorites, and let us know any you love in the comments. You can also check out the walking guide to the murals below.

[Map by Joanna Purpich; Photographs by Jacob Daniels]

Tagged

art

east harlem

graffiti

manhattan

murals

street art

original

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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