This year New York City has been adding so many wonderful outdoor public exhibitions for visitors to explore…and now you can too. Offering an alternative to museums, art galleries, and art exhibitions, these open-air installations are all free to check out and reside in the great outdoors of our city! From sculptures to mind-bending light displays, our city has it all.
We’ve curated a list of the top 13 must-see installments in the city right now:
1. Cracked Ice
Created by artist Del Geist, this installation features 3 different stones hoisted on stainless steel beams, symbolizing boulders suspended from ancient glaciers. Inviting guests to reflect on the dynamic forces of nature and profound impact of climate change, it’s meant to lead to commentary about NYC’s and the world’s future.
Where: Broadway btwn 39th and 40th Streets
2. Parabolic Light
Fred Eversley’s “Parabolic Light” is NYC’s newest addition to his Cylindrical Lens series. The unique magenta and semi-transparent stature of it allows visitors to walk up to and see how light waves reflect, refract, and move over time and space. The theme of heightened awareness of both our inner and outer worlds is the main point of discussion here!
Where: Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park
3. The Dumbo Projection Project
From January 18 – April 20, you’ll be able to check out outdoor video art exhibition projected onto Dumbo’s most iconic infrastructure! Presented by The Dumbo Improvement District, there will be 3 different screening rotations, including Victorian floral bouquets from community generated messages, works following New Yorkers as they shop, walk, chew gum and buy flowers, and surrealist animated stories.
They will be viewable on Thursdays – Saturdays from dusk to 10 pm. Learn more here.
Where: Manhattan Bridge on both the Pearl Street and Adams Street sides, BQE in Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park
4. WHAT IF THEY BARK?
Cosima von Bonin brings fish to life in ‘WHAT IF THEY BARK?’ as fish wear wear theatrical costumes, play musical instruments, and hold checkered missiles. The hilarious reenactment of ancient Greek temple statues as sea creatures is playful and good for a laugh. Learn more here.
Where: The High Line at 17th St
5. City Ecology
This art installation by NY-based artist Sui Park consists of colorful and complex patterns that are scattered around Bella Abzug Park in Hell’s Kitchen. Combining organic, biomorphic shapes with the natural environment, Park looks to reflect on countless communities and hubs of activity that make urban destinations like NYC so beautiful. Learn more here.
Where: Hudson Blvd btwn W 37 St & W 33 St
6. NYC Legend
Beware, crockey! Swedish artist Alexander Klingspor’s ‘NYC Legend’ sculpture proudly resides in Union Square, where you can see a life-sized alligator on the back of a manhole cover lid. Playing onto the old folklore that alligators roamed in previous era’s NYC sewers, the statue taps into the resilience of both alligators and New Yorkers. Learn more here.
Where: Triangle Plaza of Union Square Park
7. Broadway: Now and Then
Stop and see what used to be… This photo installation in Washington Heights brings a hint of nostalgic to the streets, thanks to a ever-changing alternating images of what Broadway used to look like back in the day. Switching back and forth between images from 1909 and 2023, visitors can check out the visual transformation of one of NYC’s most iconic streets.
Where: Intersection of West 157th Street and Broadway
8. “In every language there is Land”
In this installation, artist Nicholas Knight uses steel tubing to create a statue of the word LAND that is reminiscent of Robert Indiana’s 1966 sculpture, LOVE (which is set to return to NYC soon). Using the same material as the United States/Mexico wall, this art piece is meant to provoke thoughts around the legacy of colonization and Indigenous people’s persistence to permeate borders.
Where: Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn in Brooklyn Bridge Park
9. “The Bean” by Anish Kapoor
Who says “The Bean” only has to be in Chicago? NYC’s rendition of the reflective masterpiece by Anish Kapoor can be found nestled into a corner of the “Jenga Building” in Tribeca! It stands 19 feet tall, stretches 48 feet long and weighs a whopping 40 tons! Izak Senbahar, president of Alexico Group hopes that the structure “will draw arts and culture lovers to its magical seamless surface.” Stop by a take a mirror pic today!
Where: 56 Leonard St
10. Pamela Rosenkranz’s “Old Tree”
This bright red-and-pink sculpture on The High Line “animates myriad historical archetypes wherein the tree of life connects heaven and earth.” Thanks to its bright color meant to represent human organs, blood vessels, and tissue, Old Tree is meant evoke thoughts about human evolution and the connection between human and plant life. Read more about the installation here.
Where: The High Line (30th St & 10th Ave)
11. The Big Button
Playfully representing the theme of the neighborhood it sits in, The Garment District, the newly unveiled “The Big Button” sculpture aims to tell the tale of this historic area. This piece of art was a staple in Midtown for over 30 years before eventually receiving a recent facelift. It stands at 28 feet tall with a 15-foot diameter aluminum button and 32-foot brushed stainless-steel needle. The pop art “represents NYC’s prominent fashion industry and serving as a beloved symbol of our neighborhood and its rich history,” according to Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance.
Where: Corner of 39th St & 7th Ave
12. Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings
One of Brooklyn’s most iconic hip-hop stars is the focus of this sculpture, paying homage to his artistry and legacy. Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G” Wallace and his 9 foot statue added to the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge is now an authoritative recognition for one of NYC’s largest legends. The statue rightfully features a crown (for the “King of New York”) as well as stainless steel and bronze detailing.
Where: Clumber Corner, North East corner of Prospect Street and Washington Street (entrance to Brooklyn Bridge)
13. Sunrise at Everest
A collaboration between Hoops in the Sun and Project Backboard, this vibrant basketball court is the most eye-opening and stunning spot you’ll ever shoot hoops at in NYC. These two entities work together on a variety of colorful court designs that aim to renovate public spaces in order to strengthen communities, improve park safety, encourage multi-generational play, and inspire people to think more critically and creatively about their environment.
Where: Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx