Some of New York City’s busiest and most important street artists converged on E. 10th Street’s Piragua Art Space for a spectacular group show that demonstrates anew the genre’s significance as the essential element of the city's contemporary art scene.

The works at “Send Nudes”  include a vertical piece by graffiti legend Al Diaz called Reluctant Model that features a day-glow green figure, partially eviscerated, posed atop the artist’s signature subway letteing. In a departure from his signature question mark imagwry, @questionmarks_official brought a pair of small square pieces, each containing a circular design with puzzle-cut images that might be body parts.

Another engaging piece, by Chris RWK, features his familiar robot character with a bowl of noodles and chopsticks replacing the heart. That one sold quickly. Sacsix contributed a skateboard deck with a penis wearing a glasses-nose-and-mustache design and Clown Soldier brought an image of a man, with a polka-dotted sausage for a head.

The show was a group effort from the beginning, created by @drecks___, curated by @elisse_geb, produced by @themusegalleryny and promoted by @up_mag. Its aim is to bring together well-known NYC-based artists to the neighborhood, exposing their silly sides and expressing authentic, irreverent, comical portrayals of their characters.

The impressive lineup of artists participating in Send Nudes includes @albertdiaz1, @artbyluch, @captaineyeliner, @chrisrwk, @citykittystreet, @clown_soldier2021 @c0rnqueen, @degrupo, @drecks___, @eye.sticker, @jkosart, @mattsiren, @modomatic, @mylifein.yellow, @nyckushco, @questionmarks_official, @sacsix, @saralynne.leo, @sold.out.art.show, @t0a5t0r0 and  @tyme_creations.

To understand the vibrance of the neighborhood and the street art scene here, visitors need only look across E. 10th Street where a series of murals have emerged in recent months by some of the same artists featured in the current show.

The wall of the long vacant PS 64, the former home to the greatly missed community asset the CHARAS/El Bohio community and cultural center, has become the area’s premiere location for thoughtful and engaging street art, much of it bemoaning the loss of the community center and other assaults on the neighborhood’s legacy of diversity.

Piragua, 367 E. 10th St., continues the summer art lineup with work by @paged1 produced and curated by @themusegalleryny on Saturday, July 8, from 4-10 PM and Sunday, July 9, 2-8 PM. @paged1 is the creator of La Nena, one of the most engaging murals along E. 10th St., featuring a black and white stencil depiction (ala Banksy) of a little girl planting a Puerto Rican flag. The work became a symbol of Pueto Rican resilience in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Piragua is a community space hosting pop-up, art gallery events, small screenings, intimate performances and community engagement activities. It provides resources such as audio/visual production, rehearsal space and a meeting space for creatives.

The space’s wide ranging mission includes building community and promoting a message that encourages  artists to take ownership of their artistic expression while educating our youth on the power of entrepreneurship.