New York street art: subway photos, prints and books
New York is closely tied to the story of graffiti. In the 1970s and 1980s, writers painted their names and pieces on subway trains, and the city became a reference point for the movement worldwide. Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat both worked in New York, and their names still shape how people think about New York street art today. For more on the scene and where to look, see our guide to street art in New York.
What you find in this category
- NYC subway graffiti photos: photographs of painted trains and stations, sold as prints, postcards or framed pieces.
- New York street art prints: posters, giclées and screenprints of motifs linked to the city.
- NYC graffiti books: photo books, histories and blackbook-style collections documenting writers and walls.
- New York canvas: hand-painted works by city artists as well as printed canvas reproductions.
Many listings are photos, prints, books and souvenirs. Items that carry famous names, such as Haring or Basquiat, are often posters or merchandise rather than works by the artists themselves, so read every description carefully.
What to check before you buy
For any piece of New York street art, ask who made it, how many copies exist and what condition it is in. A vintage photo by a known photographer is a different thing from a modern reprint, and a hand-painted canvas is different from a printed one. Sellers do not always know the background of what they offer, so polite, specific questions before you bid often reveal more than the listing title does.
- Ask for close-up photos of any signature, numbering, stamps and the back of the work.
- Treat "in the style of" or "after" as a sign that the piece is not by the artist named.
- Avoid anything described as removed from a wall or train. Such a street piece raises legal and ethical questions.
- Check paper and photographs for creases, stains and fading.
The listings come from independent eBay sellers and are not checked by us.
Find out more about your piece
If you already own a print, photo or canvas connected to New York and want a first idea of what it could be worth, upload a few photos for a free estimate on StreetArtValue.com. It is a simple starting point before you buy, sell or insure a piece.