15 Street Artists to Watch in 2014

Each of the fifteen individuals for this list are doing outstanding things in the world of street art. From the theoretical writings of EKG to the ladies participating in Jeffrey Deitch’s Women on the Walls project, some are household names while others are breaking new ground to establish themselves. In Berlin Various and Gould are lighting the city on fire with political posters. Monica Canilao is reimagining rural ruin with installations in Detroit, New Orleans, and Oakland. Rae is transforming New York’s idea of bodegas into an interactive experience. While some argue that street art has dulled with artists rapidly moving towards money and galleries, they are here to prove that the streets are thriving.

10 Street Artists to Watch in 2014

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Location: New York

Sheryo's funky style has been seen around the globe alongside work by the Yok. Recently, the artist was invited to fly solo as a part of Deitch's "Women on the Walls" project during Art Basel. It will be interesting to see what other solo projects the artist will tackle in 2014.

Location: Berlin

Like many street artists and writers, Various and Gould code messages into their works, but rather than layering with personal histories, they turn to religious iconography. In particular, the duo has intensified their street installations with the most recent "Wanted Witches - Witches Wanted" series. The texture of the surface allows viewers to strike a match and light a candle in memory of women who dared to be different, but were demonized much like witches in Salem. The series is accompanied by text, in both German and English, alongside a QR code, making the work more than just an interesting concept by providing accessible histories.

Location: New York

This has been the year of EKG. The artists completed their first major solo show with the reopening of Brooklyn's beloved Pandemic Gallery. In addition to new work, the artist has also published several theoretical essays, including a manifesto.

Location: New York

Recently, Groundswell collaborated with street artist Swoon on the famed wall at Bowery and Houston Streets in New York. This mural put the work of a nearly two decade old organization in the spotlight. Each year the group produces several murals as collaborations with local communities and artists, and they'll surely have more to look forward to in the coming year.

Location: New York

Each year, Rae pushes the boundaries of how viewers conceptualize "street art." The master of mixed media took to the corner store this year, transforming a New York Bodega into an interactive playground. As Rae continues to amp up the intesity of his work, he is one street artist you will want to keep on your radar, especially if you missed his experiential "Word of Mouth" exhibit.

Location: Mexico City

As a part of All City Canvas' Global Series, artist Smithe made his first trip to the United States. During his stay, the artist completed two outstanding walls, one a collaboration with Austrian artist Nychos and the other a 200-foot wall adorning Factory Fresh.

Location: New York

Founded by Steve Powers, Icy Signs has called Brooklyn home for the past year. For their one-year anniversary, the group of eight artists exhibited their work at Joshua Liner Gallery in New York, which debuted a mixture of signs in the process of being painted, as well as works by each individual in Icy Signs. With this major exhibit under their belts, it will be interesting to follow each of the eight artists in the coming year.

Location: Paris

Kashink was also a recent participant of Deitch's curated "Women on the Walls" project in Wynwood, completing her largest mural to date. The artist, who is always seen with a penciled-on moustache, brings a defiant personality that questions many of street art's preconceived notions about women in the scene.

Location: High Desert, N.M.

Nick Mann, aka Doodles, has been back to work this year with several murals under his belt. By merging nature with accessible, folk-inspired figures, his murals speak for the often desolate communities in which he paints. After laying somewhat low following Open Walls Baltimore, the artist has been picking up steam, with new murals in New Mexico, Wisconsin, and California.

Location: Ghent, Belgium

We first came across the work of El Topo at a group show at 5 Pointz (Rest in Paint). The artist has consistently been producing paintings and walls that reflect his own brand of comedic abstraction. Follow El Topo to watch how he takes on a rising trend in graffiti in his own way.

Location: Vienna, Austria

Really, what year isn't Nychos year? He paints 10 new murals a year, each more mind-melting than the last. But this year, the artist premiered his first two solo exhibitions in the United States, making 2013 a particularly important note in his career.

Location: Baltimore

Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn have been steadily producing pattern-centric murals since Open Walls Baltimore last year. In particular, the duo has been focusing on painting ground to resemble textiles. Their most recent murals for Wall\Therapy transform a walkway into a triptacular magic carpet, making peoples' walk to work a little more special.

Location: Detroit

Traveler Nanook is the painterly hand and long-time best friend behind several of Gaia's murals. His ambling ways have seen the artist travel to Buenos Aires, Reno, and Baltimore to live, albeit temporarily. As the artist has begun flying solo, most notably at Overunder's Big Little residency program, it will be interesting to watch as he develops his career in the coming year.

Location: Brooklyn, NY

This year has been a groundbreaking one for Maya Hayuk, as she mounted not only her first solo museum exhibition in the U.S., which was hosted by the renowned Hammer Museum. The artist created impressive murals for Deitch's "Women on the Walls" in Wynwood, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto, and the "Headscapes" exhibition in New York, which was widely noted as one of the best curiatorial efforts in the city this year. Each project Hayuk has chosen to participate in this year has been of an ever-increasing magnitude. We can't wait to see what heights the artist will soar to in 2014.

Location: Oakland, Calif.

Artist Monica Canilao is a maker by trade, taking the form of collaborations, installations, and drawings. Although her past isn't filled with mural programs, the few "street art" projects she has chosen to participate in are noteworthy, including the Swimming Cities of Serenissima. In addition to challenging what viewers traditionally think of as public art, her mixed media paintings invoke the aesthetics of monikers and the transient nature associated with riding the rails.