Yoav Litvin began photographing street art after a bout with illness forced him to walk more. He quickly fell in love with the city's trove of treasure and this book is his homage to an art form that has challenged convention and defied authority since its inception. From Dare's broken-hearted bunnies to Fumero's colorful portraits, this book features 46 of the artists that make up New York City's vibrant streetscape.

About Yoav Litvin

If you've seen Adam Dare's broken-hearted bunnies or Fumero's colorful portraits plastered across buildings, chances are you haven't stopped to consider the artists behind them. But that's exactly what Yoav Litvin has done, whose photographic homage to New York City street art in Outdoor Gallery - New York City (Gingko Press) profiles 46 urban and graffiti artists alongside revealing interviews.

A doctor of psychology, photographer and writer, Litvin's work explores the intersection of psychology, art and social change. His book Outdoor Gallery - New York City features the works of 46 contemporary NYC street and graffiti artists alongside revealing interviews, while his latest photo-book 2Create - Art Collaborations in New York City follows the creative process between nine pairs of artists from creative spark to finished product. Yoav lives in New York City.

Outdoor Gallery - New York City

Yoav Litvin documents a world of graffiti and street art that is uncensored, semi-sanctioned, quasi-legal, and sometimes downright illegal. This ephemeral art form speaks to him as a political person, and it is in part what inspired his book, Outdoor Gallery (Gingko Press). From Yankees caps to tattooed children, raccoons to dragons in gas masks, the artists whose work draws Litvin's eye help shift the dynamic of graffiti away from mere vandalism. Their messages often address issues of social struggle, race, and politics,to know more click here http://litvinphoto.com/.

While Outdoor Gallery features many NYC based artists (such as old school graffiti writers COPE2 and Indie184) the book also highlights international street artists such as ASVP, Bunny M, and Hellbent. Each artist has a unique style and personality that gives their portrait a distinctive voice and helps them become like characters in a street novel. The book also offers insight into the motivations and creative process of dozens of artists.

2Create - Art Collaborations In New York City

Collaborative art provides an opportunity for people to express themselves and share common goals with others. Ultimately, participating in creating art fosters a sense of belonging and community identity that can be a source of pride (Slatcher and Pennebaker 2006). Yoav Litvin and his team from 2Create, recently released by Schiffer Publishing, present readers with a close look at the process behind nine different collaborations between graffiti and street artists from all over New York City. The book showcases each pair of artists and includes high-quality pictures not only of the final work but also of their creative process.

For example, renowned graffiti artist Alice Mizrachi created a mural with students from M.S. 244 in the Bronx, re-creating Sol LeWitt’s Untitled. The mural was a part of Publicolor, a philanthropic organization that works with at-risk students in New York City schools. The resulting mural celebrated the city’s rich heritage of hip hop culture. Publicolor consulted with Marie Flageul, a visionary curator and hip hop culture advocate, and John “Crash” Matos to curate this project.

Conclusion

When a rugby injury left Yoav Litvin unable to use his legs, he began walking for exercise and soon found himself exploring New York's neighborhoods, photographing street art he encountered. His resulting book, Outdoor Gallery - New York City, is a fascinating portrait of 46 artists and their art.