Bowie’s habit of breaking down walls and pioneering new ways of expression made him, in some ways, a “teflon” figure immune from damaging scandals. Even small-town America gave Bowie a free pass… well, mostly. Arrested by Rochester, NY police in 1976 and charged with possession of marijuana, Bowie had only good things to say about the police, the town and its people. Forty years on, the good feelings he engendered still linger.
Halloween Jack, Is That You?
This somewhat disturbing perturbation of Bowie’s 1977 “Heroes” album cover comes to us courtesy of Flickr user Scott Lynch (Scoboco), who snapped one variation on October 29th of 2014 and another on November 12th. Located in NYC’s Lower East Side, both the radium-green work and its rose-tinted twin are signed by the artist, Dee Dee.
Thin Technicolor Duke
Zoe does Bowie? Flickr user Zoe (Zawezome) captured the above street art homage to David Bowie on August 24th, 2009. This hand-drawn painting was spied in Brooklyn, NYC’s hipster mecca of Williamsburg.
The Eyes Have It
Even in monochrome, the “savage roar” of David Bowie’s enhanced persona leaps out at the viewer. Mind you, Flickr user Thierry Ehrmann’s (abode of chaos) stunning capture of this painted portrait from Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d’Or, France shows off Bowie’s charismatic aura to best advantage. Note the portrait’s left eye – Bowie suffered an eye injury in his youth that resulted in that eye’s pupil being permanently dilated.
Roll & Rock
Flickr user Rusty Sheriff documented the painting of the PCM Skatepark in Southsea, UK on October 19th of 2006. Even though Bowie was nearly 60 years old when the above tableau was painted, his inclusion in artworks by and for youthful skateboarders is a testament to the artist’s timeless, cross-generational appeal.
Wall of Silence
Flickr user _N~ snapped this curious conjunction of the legend and the living on February 3rd of 2013. Unlike many fine examples of street art, the Bowie portrait above in London’s Westbourne Grove was signed by the artist, Otto Schade.
Squared Deal
Street art takes many forms but ceramic tiles are decidedly rare for a host of reasons: cost, complexity, secure fastening in public spaces and so on. We’re not sure when the above six-tiled Bowie portrait debuted near London’s Regent’s Canal but in 2010 and 2011 when the above photos were taken, the installation was looking pretty slick.
