Osgemeos and NYC Subway Art: Bridging Cultures with Color
October 31, 2024
When we think about street art in New York City, the first images that often come to mind are the vibrant, rebellious works that covered subway cars in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But over the years, the world of NYC street art has evolved, attracting artists from all over the globe. Among these international voices, one duo stands out for their unique approach and instantly recognizable style: Osgemeos, the Brazilian twin brothers Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo.
Osgemeos—meaning “The Twins” in Portuguese—have brought a distinctive flair to New York’s urban landscape, merging elements of Brazilian folk art, surrealism, and graffiti into their public artworks. Their creations, often focused on themes of community, nostalgia, and everyday life, carry a special warmth that resonates deeply in a bustling, often impersonal city. Through projects in NYC, they’ve transformed blank walls into canvases of cultural exchange, breathing life into spaces with the same sense of wonder and spontaneity that once characterized subway graffiti.
While growing up in São Paulo, the twins were captivated by NYC’s graffiti scene, particularly the art that turned subway cars into moving murals. NYC graffiti legends like Lee Quiñones and Futura inspired them to look beyond traditional art forms, viewing public spaces as open invitations for creativity and expression.
However, Osgemeos didn’t just replicate NYC’s graffiti style; they developed a unique visual language that reflects Brazil’s cultural richness. Their elongated, yellow-skinned characters dressed in colorful, patterned clothing embody the spirit of Brazilian folk art. These figures appear on the streets with a dreamlike quality, often depicted in surreal settings that blend fantasy with gritty realism. The result is artwork that feels both foreign and familiar—a surreal slice of São Paulo’s vibrant culture transplanted into the heart of NYC.
One of Osgemeos’s most celebrated NYC projects is their contribution to the Bowery Wall in Lower Manhattan. This iconic wall has hosted works by some of the biggest names in street art, from Keith Haring to Shepard Fairey. Osgemeos’s mural on this wall, bursting with color and featuring their signature characters, stood as a vibrant contrast to NYC’s usual grayscale landscape. It celebrated not only the richness of Brazilian culture but also the boundless possibility of public art.
Another key project was their mural in SoHo, where they adorned an otherwise unremarkable building wall with a fantastical cityscape. The twins depicted scenes of musicians, dreamers, and street vendors, capturing the diversity and vitality that feels both distinctly New York and unmistakably Brazilian. Through projects like these, Osgemeos has succeeded in transforming NYC’s urban environment into a cultural dialogue that speaks to the city’s diversity and energy.
While actual graffiti on NYC subway cars has long been phased out, Osgemeos still pays homage to the city’s subway art legacy. They often incorporate subway elements into their work, using gritty textures and urban motifs that mimic the atmosphere of NYC’s underground. This approach invokes nostalgia, not only for the early days of graffiti culture but also for a time when the subway was a canvas for creativity.
In NYC, Osgemeos has touched on these themes through character-based pieces that feel as if they could belong to the city’s subway legacy, mixing the whimsy of street art with the rough-and-tumble vibe of the subway. Their work invites New Yorkers and tourists alike to engage in the artwork, blurring the line between reality and fantasy, and letting public art take center stage.
Impression
Osgemeos’s influence in NYC highlights how street art transcends geographic boundaries. Their work doesn’t just add color to the city—it encourages viewers to see their surroundings with fresh eyes, to appreciate the magic in the mundane. By infusing their Brazilian heritage into NYC’s public spaces, Osgemeos has enriched the local art scene, proving that art is a universal language.
Through their murals and subway-inspired themes, Osgemeos continues the legacy of NYC’s graffiti pioneers, not by recreating the past but by building on it. Their art reminds us of the importance of cultural exchange and the joy of discovering art in unexpected places. With each mural, they leave an indelible mark on NYC, creating spaces where anyone can pause, connect, and celebrate the city’s vibrant, ever-evolving identity.
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