PHOTOS: Murals Replace Illegal Graffiti in the Lower East Side

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — Artist L'amour Supreme on Monday morning put the final finishing touches on the brightly colored mural he spray-painted on the metal gate outside of Katz's Delicatessen. Supreme's work was the 100th gate to be completed in the 100 Gates Project, a neighborhood initiative of the past few years in which artists were convened to paint murals over businesses' drab metal gates.

The 100 Gates Project, funded by a $30,000 grant from the department of Small Business Services and the Economic Development Corporation, strives to prevent illegal graffiti while also inviting foot traffic to the neighborhood.

"It's not every day that you get to support a project that combines celebrating public art with uplifting small businesses, while also improving quality of life in different commercial corridors across the city," said Maria Torres-Springer, president of the Economic Development Corporation.

"New York City is a trend-setter," said Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the department of Small Business Services, outside of Katz's Deli. "And we're excited that the Lower East Side is now, and will continue to become, a destination, not only for terrific food and culture, but now for an exciting exhibit."

There was a 4 percent drop in illegal graffiti complaints in District 1, where the Lower East Side is located, from 2015 to 2016, according to Tim Laughlin, president of the Lower East Side Partnership.

The program not only served to prevent illegal graffiti on store gates, but it also connected local business owners with the artists who painted the murals, Laughlin said.

"I think that it's an important part of the program to connect business owners and artists together," Laughlin said. "They're figuring out what the best way is to paint these works based on their different operations."

Because many Lower East Side businesses are open late, many of the artists had to paint in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning, said Natalie Raben, senior vice president of partnerships and public affairs at the Lower East Side Partnership.

Supreme said he had to paint Katz's gate after they closed at 3 a.m., and he only had until 8 a.m., when they opened again. "I was like, who's getting sandwiches at 8 in the morning?" the Bronx-born artist joked.

Supreme's mural was inspired by vintage concession stand commercials in the movie theaters, he said. He was inspired by the idea of combining old New York with new New York, the artist added. He purposely used the brightest colors possible because Katz's Deli doesn't get a lot of sun, he said, and he wanted the mural to stand out in the darkness.

Eighty-five artists were commissioned to paint the 100 gates, and $300 of the grant money was allotted to each gate, according to a press release from the department of Small Business Services. The project has officially met its goal through the 100th gate, and it plans to install more gates through a sponsorship by Tiger Beer, Raben said.

The murals stand out in a walk around the Lower East Side. Instead of rusty gates there are now distinct styles of artistry and symbolism. Many of the murals have been on display for more than a year, and they still don't need touch-ups, Raben said.

Some of the murals reflect the mission of the businesses they cover, such as a mural of a farmhouse outside of the Farmhouse Restaurant, or a dramatic painting of a stylish Angelina Jolie outside of an upscale clothing boutique.

The most frequently Instagrammed mural, according to Raben, is artist Chamberline Newsome's horizontal stripes outside Envoy Enterprises art gallery at 87 Rivington St. Some have used it as the backdrop for their Bar Mitzvah photos, birthday party photos and many have taken selfies in front of it, the bright colors flattering as a background, Raben said.

A treasure hunt for all 100 murals reveals one with the "sad Michael Jordan" meme (that one was in partnership with the popular Instagram account "F-ck Jerry"), a portrait of Bill Murray, tropical bottles of liquor, ornate elephants and plenty of other beautiful, random subjects by artists of all different specialties and backgrounds.

Follow a self-guided tour of all 100 gates using the initiative's Foursquare page, which has all the information about each mural and its location.

All photos by Sarah Kaufman/Patch