Kevin Cyr: Artist on the streets of Brooklyn

They belong in the New York streets like hot dog stands and steaming drains – they’re the graffiti-ridden vans, an eyesore to many. But artist Kevin Cyr has dedicated a series of works to the decrepit old workhorses that endure the tribulations of Brooklyn's streets.

"In a culture in which people are easily lured by the appeal of status-enhancing symbols,” says Kevin Cyr, “I find beauty in derelict cars and unkempt landscapes. I have always been interested in painting vehicles and scenes that have defined the evolution of the American landscape.”

Cyr is a Brooklyn-based artist and designer, who finds a particular character in the old vehicles – and by removing them from their natural setting, he believes they have a “portrait-like importance”. As well as photo-realistic oil paintings, Cyr also produces die-cast miniatures decorated with the familiar urban patina.