Public Art
Lots of free art to explore - some of it touchable & climbable – at NYC's site-specific art installations in parks, galleries and stores. Also see our kid-friendly museum guide, what else is open in NYC and ideas for making art at home, plus all sorts of free events.
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NEW & CLOSING SOON
SEAPORT/FIDI
Peace, Love & Happiness
Cheerful sculptures by Scott Gerber, artist and founder of Tube Dude frame dramatic East River views. Climb inside a giant Heart, Peace Sign and Smiley Face.
See our complete guide to Seaport/Fidi.
Ziggy
Lounge and climb on rainbow colored inventive seating options on vibrantly colored painted rebar and 27,000 feet of iridescent cord by Hou De Sousa.
Across the street from the fun Imagination Playground and the historic, cobblestoned Seaport District with cute shops and restaurants plus historic tall ships in the harbor.
Dubuffet Sculpture
An office tower plaza features a dynamic Jean Dubuffet sculpture and a peaceful Noguchi rock garden fountain.
WTC Street Murals & Memorial
Street artists from around the world vibrantly transformed the streets surrounding 3 World Trade Center with fun, colorful murals, bringing love and joy to a place of mourning.
At the 9/11 Memorial, two 1-acre pools with the largest man-made waterfalls in the United States comprise the footprints of the Twin Towers, symbolizing the loss of life and the physical void left by the attacks. The waterfalls mute the sounds of the city, making the site a contemplative sanctuary with more than 400 swamp white oak trees. Find the names of the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks etched in granite around the fountains
Older interested kids can visit the 9/11 Museum to learn more (open Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 5 pm, $15-$26).
Lots of shops, food options and cool architecture inside the Oculus/Westfield World Trade Center.
Art Walk at Brookfield Place
Look for works ranging from oil on canvas to handmade ceramics throughout the 40-foot palms and glass atrium in this shopping and office complex.
In addition to a permanent collection on view, new artists exhibit their work throughout the year. Right now see vibrant oversized geometric landscapes by artists Jessie and Katey and nine photographs on view in the Winter Garden Gallery as part of the series, A Matter of Time, by Camille Seaman. The exhibition features photographs captured during the winter solstice on the Weddel Sea in Antarctica in December 2021.
vivid & colorful art installations by Laci Jordan on the indoor and outdoor walls. Download an art map/guide for details and exact locations.
See our guide to Brookfield Place.
From Sea to Shining Sea
Experience light, color and architecture in two colorful plexiglass and steel houses by Brooklyn-based artist Tom Fruin on Pier 17. These houses are a part of the ICON series, a collection of public art works designed to make viewers reimagine the buildings and structures around them in a new way.
See our guide to the Seaport.
Wall Street: Fearless Girl & Charging Bull
Historic sites and high finance mingle on the narrow cobblestone streets of Manhattan’s original neighborhood, named after wall that erected by the Dutch in the mid-1600s to mark the northern boundary of their settlement.
Find the bronze Charging Bull statue just north of Bowling Green, on Broadway, below the intersection at Morris Street. On the corner of Wall Street and Broad Street, meet the controversial Fearless Girl Statue facing the iconic New York Stock Exchange. Public tours are no longer available, but still a fun photo-op.
George Washington looks over Broad Street half a block north at Federal Hall, an impressive neo-classical built on the cite of his swearing-in in 1789 as the first US president.
Bajo el manto de la selva / Under the Cover of the Jungle
Immerse yourself in the Colombian rainforest with Winter Garden’s new large-scale sculptural work created by Tatiana Arocha, recipient of the 2022 Brookfield Place New York Annual Arts Commission. Made of hand-made paper, tree branches, reed, fique and wood, the work is representative of the artist’s layered relationship with the ecology of Colombia, her home country.
Bring headphones and listen to the sounds of the Colombian rainforest.
See to more art, food and fun at Brookfield Place.
Art on the Ave: Mural Painting
Join mural-painting at the Oculus with Art on the Ave & Soho Renaissance Factory artists. Drop in any time between 10 and 3 Monday to Friday to work side by side with master muralists.
DOWNTOWN
East Village/LES/Noho Street Art
Look for lots of cool murals around this hip neighborhood, on walls, sliding metal gates and on the sidewalk. Current favorite include:
* I ❤️ NY mural at The Jones NYC (Great Jones Street & Bowery),
* a swing you can sit on among tulips at Bloomeffects (Bowery & Bleecker)
* double-vision Mickey Mouse…
First Street Green Art Park
Nestled between two buildings and lined by interchangeable murals and fence art, this art and cultural park emerged from a derelict building lot and hosts frequent community events. Bring chalk art to add to the colorful vibe.
Freeman Alley
Look for all sorts of tags & paste-ups at one of the most famous graffiti spots in NYC, a storied alley on the north side of Rivington Street between Bowery and Chrystie Street. The walls of former horse stables turned marble factory turned residences are crammed with images and messages. Find ‘rugged clandestine colonial American…
Wilson NYC Flagship
Play in a 6,400-square-foot atrium in the new Wilson NYC Flagship store. Hit tennis balls, shoot hoops on an indoor court, try a golf simulator and test out products.
In-store services include racket stringing, leather ball customization, and glove personalization.
M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden
Look for cool art nestled among the flowers and trees this beautiful garden–almost a city block long–nestled in Sara Roosevelt Park. Up to 50 volunteer gardeners including community groups maintain individual beds, and contribute to the upkeep of communal areas. Highlights include a small pond with koi, goldfish and turtles, a chicken coop (that donates…
Back to the Garden
Installed in several locations on the Allen Street Malls between Broome and Hester Streets, this group exhibition features seven artworks by eight artists addressing themes of nature. Artists include Alberto M. Bursztyn, Sarah Haviland, Elizabeth Knowles and Eric David Laxman, Elaine Lorenz, Judith Peck, Daina Shobrys, and Michael Wolf.
Presented by NYC Parks Department Art…
SHOWFIELDS Arcade
The self-proclaimed “most interesting store in the world” features cool direct to consumer brands pop-ups and rotating interactive art exhibits throughout the 14,000 square foot, three floor space.
Play full size-adult, table top, and toddler size classic arcade games like Star Wars pinball Mortal Combat, PAC-Man, Street Fighter and more. All free (and for sale).
…
CHELSEA/MEATPACKING
Kobra Street Art Gandhi & Mother Teresa Mural
Humanitarians Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi Brazilian are depicted facing each other in street artist Eduardo Kobra’s colorful harlequin-pattern mural.
Kobra Street Art Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is a NY-loving graffitist in street artist Eduardo Kobra’s colorful harlequin-pattern mural.
DVF x Ashley Longshore Gallery
See Ashley Longshore’s paintings of inspirational women including Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Jackie Kennedy, Marlene Dietrich, Cleopatra, Oprah, Gloria Steinem, Nina Simone, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks and Jane Goodall in a photogenic gallery at the Diane von Furstenberg store. Good stop for International Women’s Month.
Iwantja Rock n Roll
Find favorite characters, famous folks and humor among colonialist critique in a group exhibition of new works by Australian artists Vincent Namatjira, Kaylene Whiskey, and Tiger Yaltangki, three leading members of the indigenous Indulkana Community in the northwestern region of South Australia on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Paintings and video works offer insight into…
MIDTOWN
Moynihan Train Hall
The Drama Book Shop
A mainstay of the New York theatre scene and a cultural institution for theatrical works is at a new location with new owners (and Hamilton creators) Thomas Kail and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Designed by “Hamilton” scenic designer David Korins and his team, the new store pays homage to twentieth century European cafes and reading rooms with…
The New York Public Library’s Treasures
See some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in the New York Public Library’s collections of the last 125+ years. Encounter manuscripts, artworks, letters, still and moving images, recordings, and more that bring vividly to life voices of the past. Highlight’s include the stuffed inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh and Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy…
Zoo on Park Avenue
Look for colorful, polygonal shaped animal sculptures by world-renowned artist Idriss B. including Rexor the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Mojo the Gorilla, Baloo the Bear, Manny the Mammoth, and more, on Park Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets.
Roar! Collection of Mighty Women
Admire Ashley Longshore’s dozens of giant pop art portraits featuring legendary stateswomen, artists, athletes and notable women from all over the world.
See our guide to Hudson Yards for more art, food and fun. Visit another Longshore mural at DVF in Meatpacking.
Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm
Sunday 11am -7pm
Here by Santi Flores
Fourteen oversized sculptures with raised hands provide a warm welcome to New Yorkers and visitors as part of the Garment District Alliance’s latest public art exhibit. Created by artist Santi Flores, Here symbolizes unity, diversity and individuality, and will be dedicated to all New Yorkers and visitors passing through the neighborhood.
Crafted from steel, concrete…
MoMA First Floor & Sculpture Garden
No ticket is needed to visit MoMA’s first floor including a lovely Sculpture Garden with a range of interesting statues (and a Paris Metro station entrance). Wander across marble stairs and bridges, throw a penny in the fountain, and bring a picnic or get ice cream and snacks…
Art in Focus
Explore installations that bring together ceramics, photography, abstraction, vibrant color, and live floral elements by Brooklyn-based artist Emily Mullin throughout the Rockefeller Center campus. Look for live floral installations, monumental still-life photography of her ceramic vessels in murals on various buildings and with physical mixed-media vessels on display in lobby of 45 Rockefeller Plaza.
Also…
Changing Spaces
Interact with a water-based sculpture Changing Spaces by renowned visual artist Jeppe Hein. The social sculpture and “liquid architecture” inspires visitors to interact playfully with the artwork and their surroundings and offer a peaceful respite within this iconic city center. Move within circular walls of water shooting up from the ground.
See our guide to…
Derrick Adams’ Funtime Unicorns
Play on artist Derrick Adams’ Funtime Unicorns, a whimsical and playful display modeled after the classic spring rider toys.
See our guide to Rockefeller Center.
UPTOWN
Cathedral of St. John the Divine & Peace Fountain
HarlemThe largest Cathedral in the world, built in 1892, is open for visitors Monday-Friday 9:30 am–3 pm and Saturday–Sunday 9:30 am-5 pm. Timed tickets strongly encouraged.
Explore rotating art exhibitions that span centuries, celebrating the creativity of 17th century weavers to modern painters and everything in between. 48 relief panels on the giant bronze…
The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure
HarlemSee unique collection of artifacts curated by The National Jazz Museum, including items highlighting the career of pianist and jazz icon, Dr. Billy Taylor plus maquettes of characters Joe Gardner and Dorothea Williams from the Disney movie Soul, and virtual experiences via the Play Disney Parks app.
The National Jazz Museum partnered with Disney to…
BROOKLYN
Green-Wood
Sunset ParkThis historic cemetery (founded in 1838) is a lovely place to wander, with 478 spectacular acres of hills, valleys, glacial ponds and paths, plus gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline and extraordinary 19th- and 20th-century statuary and mausoleums.
* Honor famous permanent residents such as Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort…
Art at Industry City
Sunset ParkLook for cool installations indoors and out at this happening design hub including a seasonal photo-op in the courtyard.
Also visit a pool and a chrome illusion in the arty elevators, go on a colorful hunt with a printable art map and see pretty decor (and tasty food) at Japan Village..
See our…
Black Atlantic
DUMBO, Downtown & HeightsExplore art inspired by the diaspora across the ocean that connects Africa with the Americas and Europe, displayed on the shores of a former shipping port. Over the centuries, these transatlantic networks have led to complex hybrid cultures and identities like those of the five artists featured in Black Atlantic.
Each commission suggests a unique…
Little Artists Curated By Justin Teodoro
DUMBO, Downtown & HeightsSee selected works from Children’s Museum of the Arts Permanent Collection of artworks created by children, curated by artist, illustrator, and designer Justin Teodoro in the Gallery at Ace Hotel Brooklyn. Includes an intimate selection of artworks that aspires to encourage the public to rediscover their love and joy in making art without judgment.
The Six Foot Platform
DUMBO, Downtown & HeightsBrooklyn-based artists present experimental art and performance on a 6×6 foot platform on photogenic Washington Street. The interactive residencies span artistic disciplines including music, dance, sculpture, performance art, puppetry, painting, poetry and more. Upcoming events include a multimedia photographic installation and durational dance/performative activation and a mix of visual art with live painting and poetry.
Art in Dumbo’s First Thursday Art Walk
DUMBO, Downtown & HeightsOn the first Thursday of every month, DUMBO’s galleries stay open late for a night of art, openings, artist talks, and live performance. Enjoy incredible views of the East River and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges while walking from one gallery to the next.
Find more art (and playgrounds) in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
QUEENS
Welling Court Mural Project
Queens: AstoriaWalk though multiple blocks of 100+ murals by artists from around the corner and around the world, providing new arrays of visual experiences that change how people interact with their environment. Mural map available online.
Find more public art at nearby waterfront Socrates Sculpture Park.
Socrates Sculpture Park: Maren Hassinger Steel Bodies
Queens: LICNew York-based artist Maren Hassinger returns to this waterfront park with stunning Manhattan views with a series of new steel sculptures. Examining the complications of human interrelation and affinity, identity and collectiveness, through abstraction in the outdoors, these steel silhouettes take forms of various iconic vessels drawing types not only from her current practice, but…
Queens Botanical Garden
Queens: Corona/FlushingExplore lovely gardens in a 39-acre oasis in one of New York City’s most bustling and diverse neighborhoods.
Look for site-specific art throughout the garden including a reflective, life-sized kaleidoscope and a beautiful mural ‘Wonder Garden’ outside the Education Building.
Closed Mondays (except holidays).
Events Search and Views Navigation
List of Events
Wednesday, January 1
Wow in the World
Join hosts Guy Raz and the hilarious Mindy Thomas on a journey into the wonders of the world. Go inside brains, out into space and deep into the coolest new stories in science and technology - with lots of wacky fun along the way. One of our family's faves.
Circle Round
Hear sound- and music-rich radio plays based on folktales from around the world. Explore important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity with guest stage and screen stars. Each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups. My daughter's favorite at bedtime.
Here Wee Read
Find great books recommendations for all ages in all sorts of diverse & inclusive categories, from Harlem Renaissance picture books to graphic novels talking about race. Includes themed collections like Halloween, Weddings,, Kids with Disabilities and RBG. Find links to buy at bookshop.org, an alternative to amazon that supports independent bookstores.
Kobra Street Art Gandhi & Mother Teresa Mural
Humanitarians Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi Brazilian are depicted facing each other in street artist Eduardo Kobra’s colorful harlequin-pattern mural.
Kobra Street Art Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is a NY-loving graffitist in street artist Eduardo Kobra’s colorful harlequin-pattern mural.
Thursday, January 2
BRAINPOP
Watch short, well-written animated films on a variety of topics including antiracism & Black history, STEM, arts, math and much more starring a very funny robot. Take quizzes and play games to test what you learned. Two editions, for ages K-3 or 4th -12th Grade (which can thoughtfully address some weighty topics, so monitor…
Wednesday, April 1
Art For Kids Hub
Follow along step by step as a professional artist and his kid draw animals, emojis, people, vehicles and more. Clear, simple steps turn anyone into an illustrator.
Children’s Museum of the Arts
Children's Museum of the Arts' blog features how-to videos and detailed instructions for art projects like Paper Chains of Kindness and Collaborative Drawing Games. Projects can be adapted for different ages and made with materials around the house.
Audible Kids
Listen to hundreds of audio books handpicked by Audible editors, including original exclusive content (we love The Mystwick School of Musicraft). Choose from a mix of stories to entertain, engage, and inform young people, ages 0–18. Spanish, German, French, Japanese and Italian selections also available. Free 30-day-trials available.
BUSY TODDLER
Find a trove of educational, easy-to-set up creative and sensory activities from a K-1 teacher turned SAHM. So many great ideas, quick & easy to messy messy, babies to tweens plus links to useful art supplies. Follow their great instagram account for daily inspiration.
DAYS WITH GREY
An educator and mom to 3 shares daily 'Breakfast Invitations,' easy-to-set-up sensory and art activities for preschoolers and toddlers.
VIRTUAL MUSEUM TOURS
Take virtual journeys to over 1,200 museums around the world via Google Arts & Culture. See collections and gallery views of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, Mexico City's Museum of Anthropology, Paris's Musée d'Orsay and more (plus NYC faves like the Whitney, Guggenheim and MoMA).
New-York Historical Society Online
This fascinating historic museum (now partially open for visits) hosts engaging live educational programs for all ages, audio and video resources (including the inspirational We Rise) and interactive 360 degree tours drawing on its world-renowned collections. Excellent educator resources including videos, remote lesson plans, and media-rich curriculum website Women…
MOMI Moving Image Studio
Find tutorials and interactive ways to collaborate and make media art with Astoria's Museum of Moving Image educators. Create Jim Henson-inspired puppets, learn about film editing and apply to have your media art shared on their YouTube channel.
MoMA Families At Home
MoMA provides resources and ideas—from art-making activities to books and films—to spark creativity and fun at home. Explore artworks in MoMA’s collection through activities (available in English and Spanish), watch favorite kid-friendly short films with prompts to spark discussion, dig deeper into Dorothea Lange: Words & Pictures, find favorite Children’s Books about Art, listen…
Ailey All Access
The acclaimed Alvin Ailey dance company shares full length videos of past performances. Also see videos of company members dancing the landmark Revelations and other pieces together from home, join free online dance classes and check out the great Resource Guide for Educators. Find free live and on-demand classes for all ages in a variety of dance…
Carnegie Hall Music Explorers
Learn about musical culture and tradition around the world - African-American Freedom Songs, South African Zulu songs and many more - with lessons plans, music and video featuring global artists. The well-designed site features a world map to explore. Also Learn about symphony orchestras in an animated adventure in Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures.
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy
Watch curated educated videos on the from Jazz at Lincoln Center's educational programs and learn about it's roots in African-American traditions and communities. WeBop instructors demonstrate fun activities to get families swinging and singing, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra share performance secrets, and Middle School Jazz Academy instructors break down jazz techniques.…
Black Art Picture Books
Learn about African American art history with curated lists from Culture Type, a website exploring art by and about people of African descent. Find gorgeous books about Jean-Michel Basquiat, fashion designer Ann Cole Lowe, Jacob Lawrence and other great black artists on posts Black Art History: 10 Children’s Books Illuminate the…
FLOCABULARY
Learn about a range of subjects for grades K-12 though catchy, educational hip-hop songs. Watch videos about math, history, science and more, learn new words, take quizzes then (this is the coolest part) write short raps/songs using your new words and knowledge.
KHAN ACADEMY
Watch short videos taught by excellent instructors with an electronic whiteboard in just about any subject for preschool through college. The free Khan Academy Kids app (for ages 2-7) teaches reading, language, writing, math, social-emotional development, and more through open-ended activities and games like drawing, storytelling, and coloring guided by adorable animal characters. Also…
The Davidson Institute At Home
The educational arm of Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science offers online kids science courses, videos, games, puzzles, quizzes and science experiments in fun topics like the science of soccer and (safe) homemade explosives.
Lincoln Center At Home
Watch short #concertsforkids recorded (at home) by world-class artists including musician Etienne Charles celebrating a cross-section of cultures from the African Diaspora, Soul Science Kids weaving soul, funk, hip-hop and educational themes and many more diverse voices. Learn puppetry, dance, songwriting and other art forms with simple materials found at home with Lincoln Center Pop-up…
The Super Secret Hive
Join a former Disney duo on a musical adventure for the whole family. A cast of quirky characters navigate timely challenges to help kids save the world. Explore topics like honeybees and pollinators, plastic in the oceans, germs and our immune system, inclusion and kindness vs. bullying (as expressed by a T-Rex!) and…
Dav Pilkey At Home
Get creative and have fun with the creator of cult favorites Dog Man and Captain Upderpants. Watch short videos of Pilkey drawing and reading aloud and download printable activity sheets, drawing guides, comic book creators, games and more.
Kennedy Center Education
Explore music, dance, theater, opera, visual and media arts through informative and engaging Kennedy Center Education interactive lessons with music videos. Learn about African-American History, US President's Favorite Music, all sorts of dance, popular American songs and more. Designed for grades K-12.
Classical Kids
Explore classical music with dramatic stories based around works by Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi and other great composers. My kids especially love Mozart's Magic Fantasy: A Journey Through 'The Magic Flute' about a girl and a dragon's journey through the Queen of the Night's realm to Sarastro's castle featuring dialogue mixed in…
TATE KIDS
Play art-inspired games, take cheeky quizzes, find art activities, and share your art on a fun website from British museums Tate and Tate Modern. Find detailed instructions for activities such as "think like the artist Alberto Giacometti" and create interesting portraits and landscapes.
NYSCI At Home
Find tons of games, activities, experiments and projects from Queen's New York Hall of Science. At-Home STEM resources encourage open-ended exploration and imaginative learning. Learn about physics, engineering, design, biology, math, chemistry and more with videos, instructions for experiments and art projects, interactive graphic novels, engaging apps and more.
Story Pirates Podcast
This absurdist sketch comedy show based on stories written by kids features original music and celebrity special guests. Young listeners are invited to submit their own stories that might be brought to live in the podcast or a future live show. Find comprehensive activity guides for each episode online with recipes, poetry lessons, and more.…
Ear Snacks
Kindie musicians Andrew & Polly and their friends consider music, science, art and culture in a fun-filled family-friendly podcast enjoyable for kids and grown-ups. Developmentally appropriate & absurdist but never untrue.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Learn about extraordinary, inspiring women women in a podcast based on global best-selling book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (a great purchase for all ages). Features famous leaders like Harriet Tubman and RBG as well as lesser known heroes from around the world.
Noodle Loaf
Explore music in an interactive podcast and video series born from the brain of a music education teacher and his goofball kids. Each approx. 10 minute episode features inventive sing-alongs and activities. Geared for kids 3-9 years old but all ages get into it.
Cooper Hewitt Online Learning
Follow along with design activities (with clear, well-designed instructions) to create protoypes, chairs, zines, posters and more. Also explore design case studies, remarkable female and LBGQT+ creators, the digital mansion, and museum exhibitions. Great graphics, video and easy-to-understand text for all ages.
Greeking Out
Hear kid-friendly retelling of classic ancient Greek myths as featured in the Nat Geo Kids book Zeus the Mighty. Zippy and fun retellings with all the inappropriate parts glossed over.
Radiolab for Kids
Find family-friendly content from Radiolab, one of the most beloved podcasts in the world. From “What do dogs see when they look at the rainbow?” to “Do animals laugh?” the topics are squeaky clean (mostly) and all about science and curiosity.
Pajama Program
Help kids in need have a loving bedtime and restful good night by collecting new pajamas and/or books to donate. Here’s info on starting a drive. A great solution for birthday or holiday presents for the kid who already has too much. Party guests still get to shop and have something fun to bring to…
Volunteer
Search for in-person and virtual family-friendly volunteering opportunities at New York Cares, Volunteer New York (includes Westchester & Long Island) and Doing Good Together. Find opportunities for specific dates/times or ongoing with a range of non-profits including city parks and senior centers.
Tuesday, November 3
Support Museums
In a win/win for all, refresh your library/playroom at expertly curated online shops of local museums. Find great toys, books, crafts and games for at-home entertainment and consider becoming a member of your faves - so many perks all year round (including store discounts and the ability to visit in person whenever). Some favorite…