Legal Subway Art: The Coolest Arts For Transit Projects

In New York City, you can find art where you least expect it.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Back in the 1980s, New York's Mass Transit Authority launched the Arts For Transit program. Through this initiative, the MTA selected artists for permanent installations at stations around the city and surrounding areas*, as well as founding the Music Under New York, the Transit Poster Program, and the Lightbox Project. Now, New York's rail and subway systems are home to museum quality works that enliven commutes and daily travels.

But, if you blink, you might miss them. That would be a real shame.

Some of the world's greatest artists are represented in mosaic, terra cotta, bronze, glass and mixed-media sculpture throughout the Arts For Transit program. All you need is $2.25 and a sense of adventure in to check it out.

Need a head  start? We recommend finding these installations first and foremost.

Check out The Coolest Arts For Transit Projects.

*In case this wasn’t implied, the art can be found in the MTA NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad stations. Enjoy!

John Fekner

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Milton Glaser

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Duke Riley

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Dan Sinclair

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Steve Wood

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George Trakas

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Jean Shin

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Andrew Leicester

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Bill Brand

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Lisa Amowitz

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Candida Alvarez

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Vito Acconci

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Wall-Slide, 2002 @ 161st Street- Yankee Stadium, Bronx - Materials: Stone, tile, and fiberglass

Subway Line: D

Acconci creates a space that pushes and pulls you in every direction. The 161st Street Yankee Stadium station invites you to view the space as an archaeological site. This means protruding walls provide seating for subway users and the illusion of stone and steel can be seen under the walls. Sounds pretty cool to me.

Also, you can check out a project by Acconci at the nearby Bronx Museum titled “Lobby-For-The-Time-Being.”

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