Tour New York’s Underground Art Museum
New Yorkers and tourists may head to the Met and MoMA to look at art, but many of the city's best works lie beneath the streets, as part of the MTA's public collection.
There's another big art player in New York alongside the likes of the Met, MoMA, the Whitney, and the Guggenheim. Just like the hallowed halls of New York’s finest museums and galleries, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been collecting and displaying works by big-named artists underground throughout the MTA’s subway system. With new works being unveiled at the newly minted Fulton Street station in the Financial District, a new book titled New York’s Underground Art Museum showcases all the masterful works that brighten the commute of millions each day. The Daily Beast has rounded up some of the best and most notable, which include Roy Lichtenstein, Sol LeWitt, and Milton Glasser.
Here, Sky Reflector-Net has become the centerpiece to the Financial District's Fulton Street Station and was crafted by James Carpenter Design Associates, Grimshaw Architects, and ARUP.
Times Square Mural, Times Square–42nd Street Station (designed 1994, installed 2002).
Rob Wilson
Whirls and Twirls (MTA), 59th Street-Columbus Circle Station (created 2004, installed 2009).
Vanni Archive Architectural Photography
Life Underground, 14 Street–8th Avenue Station.
Rob Wilson
A time capsule resides inside Cornwill's The Open Secret at the 125th Street Station.
Rob Wilson
Untitled, Astor Place Station.
Rob Wilson
Hive (Bleecker Street), Bleecker Street/Lafayette Street Station.
James Ewing
See it split, see it change, South Ferry Station.
Doug + Mike Starn
Celadon Remnants, LIRR Broadway Station.
Seong Kwon
Kaleidoscope, 20th Avenue Station.
Karen Mauch
Bronx River View, Whitlock Avenue Station.
Peter Pierce
Hudson River Explorers, MNR Tarrytown Station.
Michael Hnatov
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.