New Yorkers are using boarded up storefronts as canvases for art

Business owners across New York City are using plywood and gates to protect their storefronts, but artists, activists and residents are using these blockades to spread messages of support through art and text.

Perhaps you've seen Sara Erenthal's lone female figures commenting on displacement, survival and liberation across the city or the 20,000-square-foot ground mural covering an entire parking lot in Queens. Street art, popping up on walls, posters and even curbside trash often reflects the times, especially now.

The citywide protests over George Floyd's death and the need for systematic change to our justice system have spread across the boroughs, but so has New Yorkers' creativity. Below are some striking works of art, uplifting messages and words of protest worth noting:

RECOMMENDED: The best NYC street art inspired by our surreal times

 Inwood/Washington Heights

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Dyckman coming together - June 3 . . #dyckman #blacklivesmatter #blackouttuesday #blm #unrest #unity #hasselblad #leica @ydanis_rodriguez #mediumformat #nycstreets #reportage #nycgo @nycgo

A post shared by Chris Lonardo (@chrislonardo) on Jun 3, 2020 at 7:04pm PDT

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darkness can not drive out darkness, only light can do that. hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that. #mlk #inwoodnyc #myhood #love #notdestruction #boardedup #nyc #weloveny #weloveourneighborhood #peace

A post shared by Jing 贺 (@jingingaround) on Jun 3, 2020 at 3:06pm PDT

Soho

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#soho #nyc #2020 #manhattan

A post shared by @ suraschai on Jun 5, 2020 at 4:46am PDT

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The aftermath. I hope. Today the mayor’s office announce grants for up to $10,000 to small businesses effected by the looting and vandalism of the last few days. #ghosttown #boardedup #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd #peacefulprotest #smallbusiness #supportlocal #supportlocalbusiness #staystrong #staysafe #momandpopshops #soho #nolita #nyc #thelocalartisanguide

A post shared by Natalie Rivera (@thelocalartisanguide) on Jun 4, 2020 at 10:21am PDT

East Village 

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#boardedup #eastvillage #plywood #signofthetimes #trashandvaudeville #baczynskymeatmarket #supper #saifeehardware #protest2020 #protestnyc #nycstreets #storefronts #nycstorefronts

A post shared by Mark White (@chang0blanco) on Jun 4, 2020 at 10:07am PDT

Lower East Side

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June 5, 2020 - Lower East Side, Manhattan - at @verlainenyc the date is actually irrelevant because this mural honoring the great Nelson Mandela is up year round #lowereastside #nyc #manhattan #love #peace

A post shared by Nicole Elizabeth (@nicolebamber) on Jun 5, 2020 at 8:05am PDT

Bed Stuy

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Stay safe Bedstuy! #bedstuydoordie bedstuy do or live 🙈 I’ve lived in #bedstuy on and off over the years, so was nice to see this gate on my final day in nyc. With all the rioting & Covid-19 stuff happening right now, this message is definitely appropriate... — - — #staysafeeveryone #nycart #urbanart #nycstreets #brooklynphotographer #newyork_ig #newyorkgram #streetartphotography #rawurbanshots #streetphotography #ig_nycity #spraydaily #rsa_graffiti #newyorklife #nycphotography #bushwick #streetartandgraffiti #cityvibes #nycthrift

A post shared by Kurt Wagner (@monkeysees_bk) on May 31, 2020 at 10:56am PDT

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