Ringed Kingfisher by Geobany Rodriguez

Location: 500 West 175th Street, New York, NY 10033

Painted:听05/16/2021

About the Bird:聽Ringed Kingfishers perch high above rivers, large streams, and ponds in southern Texas and throughout the American Tropics鈥攁n ideal vantage to watch for prey. When the bird spots a fish close to the surface, it plunges headfirst into the water, catching the meal in its bill.聽Although Ringed Kingfishers have become more common in Texas since the 1960s, climate change will once again reshape their range. The bird is poised to lose significant breeding habitat in Mexico, and increased drought and spring heat waves will also threaten its survival.

About the Artist:聽Growing up in New York City, was heavily influenced by the graffiti of the '90s鈥攅specially productions from graffiti crews like TATS and FX that would show the versatility of spray-can art, go beyond beautiful lettering, and pave the way for graffiti-based public art. After studying psychology at Boston University,聽Geo聽continued to use art as a medium for self-expression and enrolled in classes at the School of Visual Arts and later at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he developed traditional artistic techniques. Meanwhile he honed his skills with a spray can at venues like 5聽Pointz聽and the Bushwick Collective, where experimentation and exploration of the聽art form were encouraged.聽Geo聽moved to the Boston area in 2012 and participated in Bartlett Yard鈥檚 Mural Festival, the Arts in the Park showcase, and the Juneteenth Celebration at the Boston MFA.聽Now back in New York City,聽Geo聽is happy to continue painting murals and adding more life to an already vibrant place.

Come Visit: