2 Comments Written by Robert Hecimovic on May 3, 2009 – 9:00 am

In an effort to clean up hundreds of illegal billboards in New York City, an organisation called NYSAT and a dozen of their volunteers have teamed up with 80 artists and transformed New York City into a large scale urban gallery.

NYSAT was born out of the realisation that over 120 billboards in New York were being occupied by advertisements that were not registered with the city. This illegal occupation of space was allowed to continue without any interference from government or council. The City of New York had not taken any action to remove the ads nor had they pursued any legal action against the company who owns the billboards, allowing them to gain huge profits off of the illegal advertising.

NYSAT decided that taking back the space was the only option and on April 26 they set out on a campaign of reclamation. They whitewashed the billboards and let 80 artists loose on them and the results are a brilliant mix of great art and a big fuck you. Enjoy the gallery.

Photos found here and here.