In Long Island City, there is a building where people from all over the world visit to demonstrate their artistic ability. This building is 5 Pointz, an abandoned warehouse covered in graffiti. 5 pointz has gained a reputation as a place for the best graffiti artists to come and paint.

5 pointz was originally founded in 1993 as an attempt to rid other areas of the city of graffiti. The building let artists display their art for the public in a nonillegal way. Over time, it became something like a graffiti museum. It even had a curator, a graffiti artist named Jonathan Cohen (or by his tag name, Meres). His job would be to view artists works and to decide if and where they can paint on the building.

Artists will pay for a small space where they can demonstrate their work. The building is a collaboration of tons of different artists works, many with special meanings. The top of the building is lined with names of artists who have passed away. One artists has painted lightbulbs with different faces on the back of the building. The rear of the building is considered the prime real estate. A train passes the back of the building, which means thousands of people a day see the art located on this part of the warehouse.

5 pointz has developed a reputation as being one of the places to be for graffiti artists. Artists have come from places such as the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, and Canada. Besides the popularity amongst graffiti artists, celebrities have visited the site over the last 2 decades as well. Doug E. Fresh, Mobb Deep, and Joan Jett are just some of the famous people who have been there in the last decade. 5 pointz has also appeared in recent popular culture. The final scene of the 2013 film Now You See Me takes place on the roof of this building.

After being there for twenty years, 5 pointz is expected to be demolished by the end of the year. Graffiti artists from around the world will have to find a new place to display their creativity and artisitc skill.