Beyond the Streets: Colossal Survey of Street Art Opens in Brooklyn

The exhibition 'Beyond the Streets' at 25 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn, curated by urban anthropologist Roger Gastman, spans over 9,000 square meters and features 150 artists. It traces street art from its origins in late 1960s New York and Philadelphia to its current commodification. The show includes works by pioneers like Taki 183, Blade, Richard Hambleton, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and contemporary figures such as Invader, KATSU, Felipe Pantone, and Nina Chanel Abney. Sections are dedicated to the Beastie Boys, the hobo code, West Coast aesthetics, activism (including the Guerrilla Girls), and the Obey brand by Shepard Fairey. The exhibition runs until August 25, 2019, and previously had a smaller iteration in Los Angeles. It highlights the tension between street art's illegal roots and its institutional acceptance, with many artists now selling works for thousands of dollars. The show also features a reproduction of a record store, a sex club installation by Lady AIKO, and a collaborative piece by BAST and Paul Insect. The curatorial approach emphasizes context, including music, photography, and ephemera, to situate street art within broader cultural movements.