24 of 29
 
1651 Lexington Avenue, at 104th Street
 
The street poet of Spanish Harlem, James de la Vega has plastered his neighborhood with murals, chalkings, and pithy sayings. This example is on the side of his gallery, where he sells affordable t-shirts decorated with his sayings to fund his legal defense against vandalism charges.

Photographed by Mike Epstein