Rivington Street Wall

The Rivington Street Wall serves as a constantly evolving outdoor gallery that keeps the tradition of street art alive in the Lower East Side. Since 2014, this specific stretch of wall between the Bowery and Chrystie Street has functioned as a rotating canvas where new murals are installed every four to six weeks. It was established as a formal project by Coburn Projects to provide a curated, ever-changing space for international and local street artists to display their work. The wall began its life as a space for the artist Retna, who covered it in his signature cryptic, calligraphic lettering. Since then, it has hosted a diverse array of styles ranging from the photorealistic to the whimsical, including the distinctive doll-like characters of Brazilian artist Nina Pandolfo. While larger nearby landmarks like the Bowery Wall have historical roots stretching back to the nineteen-eighties, this Rivington site acts as a younger, faster-paced counterpart. It captures the modern spirit of the neighborhood, where the aesthetic of the street is defined by the rapid turnover of temporary art.