New York City is like a giant art galleryFor decades, artists have used walls, trains, and sidewalks to share their work with everyone. Some became so famous that the whole world knows their names.
Here are the top 5 NYC street artists you should know about—each with their own cool style and story.
Number 5 on the list is:
Jean-Michel Basquiat
He is known as the king of street art. He started as a teenage graffiti writer in the late 1970s, leaving his mysterious “SAMO” tags across Lower Manhattan.
His graffiti wasn't just words - it was poetry mixed with sharp social commentary. By the 1980s, he became one of the most famous artists in the world, creating wild paintings full of skulls, crowns, and scrambled words that made people think about race, power, and society.
What made Basquiat special was how he mixed street art with fine art. He took the energy of graffiti and brought it into galleries, proving street art could be just as important as traditional painting.
Even though he died young at 27, his art keeps breaking records – one painting sold for $110 million!
Today, you can see his work in museums worldwide, but the streets where he started have mostly lost his early graffiti pieces to time.
Read More: Jean-Michel Basquiat dies just at the age of 27
- Number 4 on the list is:
Keith Haring
Keith Haring’s art is impossible to miss – those simple, joyful figures of dancing people, barking dogs, and flying saucers became symbols of 1980s New York.
He started by drawing with chalk on blank black panels in subway stations, creating art that everyone could enjoy for free. Unlike many artists, Haring wanted his work to be for everybody, not just for the rich people.
Haring used his fun style to talk about serious issues like AIDS awareness, apartheid, and drug addiction.
His famous "Crack is Wack" mural in Harlem is still there today, warning about the dangers of drugs. He even opened the Pop Shop to sell affordable art merchandise, proving that great art didn’t have to be expensive. Though he died from AIDS-related illness in 1990, his colorful figures remain some of the most recognizable art in the world.
Number 3 on the list is:
Banksy – The Mystery Man
Banksy might be British, but his 2013 New York “residency” left a permanent mark on the city’s street art scene.
For 31 days straight, he secretly installed new artworks around NYC – from a truck full of stuffed animals to a butcher shop selling “fresh” rat meat.
His stencils always contained sharp humor and social criticism, making people laugh while making them think.What makes Banksy so fascinating is that no one knows who he really is. He works completely anonymously, which only adds to his legend.
While most of his NYC pieces were quickly removed or stolen, photos of them spread everywhere online.
His most famous New York work might be the “Sirens of the Lambs” truck that drove around the meatpacking district, featuring squeaking stuffed animals – a protest against factory farming.
Lady Pink – The Graffiti Queen
Number 2 on the list is:
In the male-dominated world of 1980s graffiti, Lady Pink stood out as one of the few female artists painting subway trains. Starting at just 15 years old, she earned respect for her bold, colorful pieces that often covered entire train cars.
Her work appeared in the famous hip-hop movie “Wild Style,” helping bring graffiti culture to the mainstream.
Unlike many graffiti writers who faded away, Lady Pink kept evolving as an artist. Today she creates large murals and canvas paintings while still staying true to her graffiti roots.
She also teaches workshops to inspire young artists, especially girls who want to break into street art.
From the subway yards of the Bronx to galleries around the world, Lady Pink proved that graffiti wasn’t just a boys’ club.
Number 1 on the list is:
Dain
Walking through Bushwick today, you can’t miss Dain’s stunning portraits of women with faces that seem to be cracking or peeling away.
His unique style mixes classical beauty with urban decay, creating images that are both pretty and powerful.
What started as graffiti lettering evolved into these breathtaking murals that stop people in their tracks.
Dain’s work shows how NYC street art keeps changing and growing. While he respects the graffiti legends who came before him, he’s created something completely new. His pieces often appear next to other famous street artists in Bushwick’s outdoor galleries, proving that street art is still alive and thriving in New York.
From abandoned buildings to art festivals worldwide, Dain’s broken faces continue to fascinate audiences everywhere.
Bottom Line
New York City’s streets have always been a canvas for bold artists to share their voices—from Basquiat’s poetic graffiti to Dain’s mesmerizing murals.
These five artists prove that street art isn’t just paint on walls; it’s a powerful way to challenge ideas, spark conversations, and bring beauty to everyday life.
Whether through Haring’s dancing figures, Banksy’s sneaky stencils, or Lady Pink’s trailblazing spray cans, their work reminds us that art belongs to everyone.
Next time you walk through NYC, look closer—you might just spot a masterpiece hiding in plain sight. 🎨
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