Forget the gallery walk, it’s the gallery ride that counts.
For just the fare of a subway ride, you can enjoy world-class artwork, from the vibrant works of Yayoi Kusama to the charming dog photography of William Wegman, in New York City stations 24/7.
Over the decades, the MTA has commissioned more than 400 pieces of public art to enliven New Yorkers’ daily commutes and long-distance journeys.
“Each piece speaks to its location in a unique way,” Sandra Bloodworth, the MTA’s longtime director of art and design, told the Post.
She is the co-author, with Cheryl Hageman, of the new book Contemporary Art Underground: MTA Arts & Design New York (Monacelli, out now).
The exhibition features more than 100 of the MTA’s most recent commissioned works — most of them constructed from mosaics and large pieces of metal and glass — being added to the transit system between 2015 and 2023.
Want to check out some?
Grab your MetroCard and take a (mostly) underground sightseeing tour, designed with inspiration from a new book by The Washington Post.
Tour 1: Williamsburg to Midtown
First Bedford Avenue L Station check out Marcel Dzama’s “All Comes Together” (2021)The piece was inspired in part by Walt Whitman’s poem “Across the Brooklyn Ferry,” which provided solace to Zama, who had recently moved to New York from Canada and felt lonely on the daily commute from his Lower East Side apartment to his Brooklyn studio.
Take the L train to Manhattan First Avenue Station look Katherine Bradford’s “Queen of the Night” (2021)is a clever play on the idea of New Yorkers’ inner and outer lives. On the south mezzanine, large figures in ball gowns dance beneath the stars. On the north side, smaller figures float beneath a disco ball-like mirror. At the entrance, two caped, superhero-like figures protect passengers. “It’s a really ephemeral piece, and it communicates emotion,” Bloodworth said.
Take the L train west to 14th Street-Union Square and transfer to the 6 Uptown train. 28th Street look Nancy Blum’s “Roaming Underfoot” (2018)The oversized flowers, all of which are varieties known for their resistance to climate change, are reminiscent of both 16th and 17th century botanical sketches and the Tiffany glass lamps that were once manufactured in the region.
Back at the Uptown 6 Grand Central StationWhen you leave the subway and climb the stairs to the main hall, Gym Hodges’ “I Dreamed a World and Called it Love” (2020)This colorful installation is based on camouflage and is made from over 5,000 pieces of glass.
From there, Long Island Railroad Grand Central Madison Terminal look Kiki Smith’s “River Light,” “The Presence,” “The Spring,” “The Sound,” and “The Water’s Way” (all 2022) Mosaic depicting the natural landscapes of Long Island.
Yayoi Kusama “A message of love sent directly from my heart to the universe” (2022) Here. The Japanese artist is known for his polka-dot works, but in this vast mosaic he depicts numerous figures in amoeba-like formations that evoke the surrealism of high school biology class.
Tour 2: Astoria to Herald Square to the Bronx
First Astoria Boulevard N & W Station look Jeffrey Gibson’s “I AM A RAINBOW TOO” (2020)It features 102 different multi-coloured geometric patterns rendered in glass.
To get to Manhattan, take the N or W train and transfer to the southbound F or M train at Herald Square. 23rd Street look “Still Figures” by William Wegman. The photographer is known for his whimsical photos of his dogs Flo and Topper (sometimes dressed up in costume), who are depicted here in a charming mosaic.
Then take the F or M train north to Herald Square. Transfer to the D train uptown. 167th Street look “Beacons” by Rico Gatson — Eight portraits of notable black and Latino figures. Reggie Jackson and Gil Scott-HeronHas ties to the Bronx.
