Union Square just got a colorful summer makeover, and just in time for the gorgeous weather!
Along the pedestrian areas of the 14th Street Busway between Broadway and Union Square West is a brand new street mural by Brooklyn-based artist Vanesa Álvarez.
Titled Union with the Universe, the vibrant piece of public art was installed over five days by community partners and volunteers and you can see it now!
Like murals from previous years, Union with the Universe is part of the NYC Department of Transportation’s Art Program and is supported by Street Plans, a Brooklyn-based design firm that repurposes asphalt to improve pedestrianized public space and streets.
Of course, this one was also done with the Union Square Partnership.
The mural “is a call to protect our planet while strengthening our connection with nature and creating a more balanced life.”
It features peaceful designs and color shades inspiring viewers to slow down, connect with the universe around us, and take action to save our planet’s changing climate.
Other figurative elements like waves, mountains, and the sky evoke a “sense of Earth’s land before human development.” There are also elements that represent migration patterns and metamorphosis, such as flora and fauna, butterflies, and roses–the state flower of New York.
The mural is the third artwork to be painted on the sidewalk extensions that were first installed in 2019 to make more walking spaces along the public busway, that already crosses the center of Union Square.
“Vanesa Álvarez’s mural beautifully captures people’s movement throughout Union Square – one of the city’s busiest transit hubs – while incorporating elements that reference our community’s rich history and conversation on the importance of open spaces,” said Ed Janoff, Acting Executive Director of Union Square Partnership.
“It’s a dream to debut Union with the Universe with New York locals and visitors alike, particularly in such a lively neighborhood like Union Square,” added Vanesa Álvarez.
Find out more on their website here!