Bushwick Collective Block Party Marks 15 Years of Street Art and Community

The Bushwick Collective Annual Block Party, founded by Joseph Ficalora, celebrates its 15th anniversary on Saturday, May 29, in Bushwick, Brooklyn. What began as a small pig roast with five artists—Jim Avignon, The Yok & Shyro, Gabriel Specter, and COST—has grown into a massive free event drawing visitors worldwide. The block party features dozens of new murals by artists from New York, across the US, and globally, turning the neighborhood into an open-air gallery. Live music from hip-hop artists, MCs, DJs, and performers, along with food trucks and vendors, fill the streets. Ficalora emphasizes community impact over personal success, and the event remains free and rooted in the neighborhood despite Bushwick's transformation with new restaurants, venues, and apartments. The anniversary edition continues the tradition of live painting, dancing, and celebration.