M&F Presents - Best of LA Street Art 2012

2012 has been a wild ride on the streets of Los Angeles. Melrose and Fairfax is proud to present 20 of our favorite shots for the Best of Los Angeles Street Art 2012. Enjoy the year in review!

(All photos by Melrose and Fairfax, unless otherwise noted.)

^It has been said that being a street artist is like a kid playing on the streets. This giant mural from Bumblebee captures the spirit of kids playing.

^Street artist Chod paints over a dollar bill. Notice the little features, such as how the middle monkey's nostrils double as George Washington's masked eyes. This modified dollar bill was found glued to a red street curb in Hollywood.

^French street artist JR visited Los Angeles and left some beautifully decorated buildings behind. Like this one on Beverly Blvd.

^Love this piece featuring the stencil of a boy playing with a toy airplane. Unknown artist.

^There was lot of political street art in 2012, like this piece based on the Presidential Election from Bumboy WC.

^Street artist BANKRUPT SLUT makes a slutty case for gender equality with a Lady Gaga themed street piece entitled 'Slut-Its a good thing!'

^Some girls interact with a street piece from Bumboy WC, featuring a life size paster of Chris Brown pulling a punch.

^Action shots of street artist Morley pasting up a life-size street portrait of himself bearing the message, "I love you because we hate the same stuff."

^Beautiful angel with wings painted on a blood red wall in downtown Los Angeles by street artist Drew.

^Graffiti writers are still risking life and limb to find the hottest spots to get up in Los Angeles. This pic captures the death defying heights and 100 foot drop below where these artists had to cling while painting these pieces. Impressive work from FSK and Tuelr.

^This deliciously colorful mural from Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra has graced La Brea for the better part of 2012.

^Chik-fil-a became a target for progressive activists this year after their so-called family values were revealed to be less about the family and more about supporting anti-gay causes. Subsequently, 2012 saw multiple pieces of street art aimed at the fast food giant for its perceived bigotry. One of the best pieces landed right here in West Hollywood, and the local Chik-fil-a got 'Gay Bombed' with a 3d rocket installation by the street artist Plastic Jesus. (Thanks to Nick Stern for the pic)

^Plastic Jesus strikes again with a piece that surfaced on Melrose during the Holiday shopping season. It is appropriately entitled American Excess. (thanks to Nick Stern for the photo)

^Action shots of street artist Teacher in the midst of a participatory live painting clinic at Fairfax High School. When he was finished, Teacher donated this painting to the school. (Thanks to John Wellington Ennis for the photo)

^Often times, street art will play the role of jester in society, like this piece from street artist Bumboy WC, which utilizes imagery from the Kent State Riots to capture the mayhem surrounding the iPhone 5 being sold out. (Thanks to John Wellington Ennis for the pic)

^4th of July themed portrait from L.A. street artist There She Is.

^Free Humanity paints a whole lotta love into this mural on Sunset entitled 'The Best Thing to Hold Onto in Life is Each Other.'

Dig this shot because it captures the full spectrum of street art in Los Angeles with wheat paste (from BANKRUPT SLUT), graffiti (from Clasi and Chili), stickers (from Damage and Long Live) and a mural (painted by Random Act).

^Action shots of Alec Monopoly getting up and painting a rooftop in Hollywood.

^Sometimes, street art is like fine art on the streets, like with this gorgeous piece from Maggot.


M&F's Best Of LA Street Art 2012 originally published on the Huffington Post.