By Stephanie Oh, Markets Media Life Correspondent
Harried commuters may not notice, but since 1985, the Metropolitan Transit Authority has presented New Yorkers with various types of art to soothe their subterranean journeys. You may have seen some vivid terracotta or mosaic artworks inside of they subway stations, but have you wondered about the stories behind the pieces? We’ve rounded up top five charming yet timeless subway art pieces you must see this summer.
1. Prospect Avenue’s Bronx, Four Seasons by Marina Tsesarskaya
Bronx, Four Seasons, Marina Tsesarskaya (2006)
Photo by Robbie Rosenfeld
Created by Ukranian artist Marina Tsesarskaya, these mosaic installments are her vivid descriptions of Bronx’s four seasons: the panel starts from blooming spring and ends with cold-blue winter depicting trees without leaves.
Prospect Avenue: lines 2 and 5
2. Jay Street-Metrotech’s Departures and Arrivals by Ben Snead
Departures and Arrivals, Ben Snead (2009)
Photo via MTA
Ben Snead’s intricate artwork made of mosaic and tile, Departures and Arrivals reflects the artist’s interest in mother nature, the relationship between dissimilar species. Ben Snead successfully portrayed parrots, koi fish, and tiger beetles using his creative imagination and lucid colors.
Jay Street – Metrotech (Borough Hall): lines A and C
3. 57th Street – 7th Avenue’s Carnegie Hall Montage by Josh Scharf
Carnegie Hall Montage, Josh Scharf (1994)
Photo via MTA
Carnegie Hall Montage is made from porcelain that shows the range of artist who performed in this legendary stage – Carnegie Hall. There is a list of names of classical musicians and important figures in the mural as well as the portraits of the Beatles and Martin Luther King Jr.
57th Street: lines NQR
4. Lexington Avenue – 53rd Street’s Passing Through by Al Held
Passing Through, Al Held (2004)
Photo by Robbie Rosenfeld
These geometrically abstract alliance of freely floating shapes on the walls of Lexington Avenue Station echoes Al Held’s perpetual curiosity about the universe. His artwork complementarily evokes contemporary NYC’s architecture.
Lexington Avenue (Queens Boulevard Line): lines E and M
5. Westchester Square’s City of Light by Romare Bearden
City of Glass, Romare Bearden (1993) (Proposal created by artist, 1982) Photo via MTA
Romare Bearden always dreamed of riding the elevated trains above the city and, in fact, his imaginary thought directly influenced the artist to install this colorful facet of lucid mosaics on the wall of the Westchester Square station. The work depicts shining lights of the city changing every moment with the reflection of the sun.
Westchester Square (Pelham Line): line 6
All images via pexels/nycsubway/MTA