As is the case with many of those making the transition from street to gallery, there’s a powerful dose of politics to be had in the work of Vinz – a street art maestro who made his name wheat-pasting the walls of his native Valencia, along with other major European cities. Fuelled by rebellion against government, religion and consumerism; artist Vinz positions bird-headed nudes as the heroes of his work, whilst fish, frogs and lizards convey his authoritarian enemies. Confused? Probably. Visually knocked out? Definitely.

In association with Sara and Marc Schiller of Wooster Collective, the internet’s number one resource for all things street art, and showing at New York’s Jonathan LeVine Gallery – until 29th December – Batalla marks the Valencia-based artist’s debut solo show on American shores, and introduces a series of mixed-media paintings and sculptures to accompany the animal-headed beauties.

It’s those creature/beauty composites that really stand out though, a more refined version of Vinz’ traditional wheat-paste work, the Spanish artist photographs the nudes before painting the heads onto large-scale prints of his human figures. Breathtaking, powerful – and, occasionally, strangely sexy – here’s a body of work you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Vinz
Too Much Love Escaping

Vinz
The Rape of the Sabine Women

Vinz
Rest of the Valkyries

Vinz
Opression 2

Vinz
La Testa di Medusa

Vinz
Incubation 3

Vinz
In the Line of Fire

Vinz
I Just Called to Say (2)