You can visit some of the best underground artworks in the city for the cost of a tube ride.

Forget gallery strolls; Walt Whitman’s poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” served as the inspiration for Marcel Dzama’s “No Less Than Everything Comes Together” (2021). The gallery ride is the main focus.

World-class art, ranging from Yayoi Kusama’s vibrant masterpieces to William Wegman’s captivating dog portraits, can be enjoyed in stations all across New York City for the cost of a subway ticket, every day of the year.
In order to brighten up New Yorkers’ daily commutes and lengthier journeys, the MTA has commissioned more than 400 works of public art over the years.

 

 

 

Longtime MTA Art & Design Director Sandra Bloodworth told The Post, “Each work speaks in a unique way to a place.”

Tour 1: Midtown to Williamsburg

“No Less Than Everything Comes Together” by Marcel Dzama can be heard starting at the Bedford Avenue L stop (2021). Walt Whitman’s poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” which Dzama found solace in when he first relocated to New York City from Canada and felt lonely on his daily trips from his Lower East Side apartment to his Brooklyn studio, served as inspiration for a portion of the piece.

Take the L train to First Avenue station in Manhattan to witness Katherine Bradford’s 2021 play, “Queens of the Night,” which explores the inner and outer life of New Yorkers. A lone, big figure dancing under a starry sky in a ball gown is located on the south mezzanine. Many tiny persons float beneath a mirror that resembles a disco ball on the north side. Two caped superhero-like images at the entrance provide passengers with protection. You can sense the emotion in it; it’s a really type of ephemeral art, according to Bloodworth.

Once at the 14th Street-Union Square stop, continue west on the L and change to an uptown 6 train. To watch Nancy Blum’s “Roaming Underfoot” (2018), get off at 28th Street. The enormous flowers, which are all renowned for their ability to withstand climatic fluctuations, pay homage to both the Tiffany glass lamps that were formerly made in the area and botanical illustrations from the 16th and 17th centuries.

 

 

Ride the uptown 6 once more and proceed to Grand Central Station. As you get out of the tube and head up the steps to the main hall, look up to see “I dreamed a world and called it Love” by Jim Hodges (2020). The multicoloured installation, which uses over 5,000 glass pieces, is inspired by camouflage.

After there, proceed to the Long Island Railroad Grand Central Madison terminal to view the Long Island nature sceneries shown in Kiki Smith’s mosaics, “River Light,” “The Presence,” “The Spring,” “The Sound,” and “The Water’s Way” (all from 2022).

 

Yayoi Kusama’s “A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe” (2022) is also available to view here. The Japanese artist is well-known for her polka dots, but in this large mosaic, she depicts several images that resemble amoebas, evoking an oddball biology class from high school.

Tour 2: The Bronx to Herald Square from Astoria

To view Jeffrey Gibson’s “I AM A RAINBOW TOO” (2020), which consists of 102 glass sculptures with multicoloured geometric shapes, start at the Astoria Boulevard N, W stop.

Once in Manhattan, take the N or W and change to the F or M heading south at Herald Square. To view William Wegman’s “Stationary Figures,” exit at 23rd Street. The photographer is well-known for his humorous pictures of his Weimaraners, Topper and Flo, who are occasionally dressed up. In this instance, they are depicted in warm mosaics.
After that, take the F or M north to return to Herald Square. Take the uptown D train to 167th Street to view Rico Gatson’s “Beacons,” which are eight portraits of prominent Black and Latino people with ties to The Bronx, including Gil Scott-Heron and Reggie Jackson.