New York City is home to many world-renowned artists, specifically Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. The city is also home to many of the most respected museums in the world. New York City also has a wide array of public art that makes it quite unique. Whether it is a bold statue in a high traffic area or a massive, brightly colored mural in Bushwick, art in New York is always evolving. The following are some of the most stunning and iconic pieces of art found in the Big Apple.
Crack is Wack by Keith Haring
Originally painted in 1986 during Reagan’s War on Drugs era, this mural is the heart of public art. It a piece that has also defined New York’s graffiti culture throughout the 1980s. The mural has been public for decades and was restored in the mid-2000s. It is an iconic piece of Harlem and was definitely a piece of culture that shaped the 80’s drug epidemic.
Alamo by Bernard (Tony) Rosenthal
This sculpture was placed in the East Village during the 1960s. It is a massive, distorted cube sitting on one corner. This steel sculpture was put in place due to an initiative called “Sculpture the Environment” by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. It was only intended to be on display for a six month period, along with a few other sculptures, but citizens petitioned to keep the statue in its place. The cube also rotates on its access to the combined efforts of a few people.
Alice in Wonderland by Jose de Creeft
This is one of the most recognizable pieces of central park. It has been used in television shows to movies, making it a staple of central park. It has been in the same location since 1959. Based off of Lewis Carroll’s story of Through the Looking Glass, the is a rather large bronze piece surrounded by the mad hatter, the white rabbit, and mushrooms with Alice right on the center. It is a sculpture that kids love to climb on.
Balloon Flower by Jeff Koons
Koons’ brightly polished and oversized balloon sculptures are what he is known for. His red flower sculpture resides right near the 9/11 memorial. It is a jarring piece to see just sitting in a fountain. The post-pop piece is a must see if you are looking for something to talk about!