New York City currently has 151 temporary public art projects installed on city property — a record high, according to the NYC Department of Transportation — plus a never-ending churn of murals in Bushwick, Astoria, the Bronx, and every borough in between. You could walk for a month and not see it all. This week, here’s where to point your camera (and your feet).
Don’t Miss: Fragile Giants on Park Avenue
Park Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets, Manhattan
French sculptor Michel Bassompierre has installed his large-scale bronze animal sculptures — the “Fragile Giants” collection — along the Park Avenue median. Polar bears, gorillas, and other monumental forms interrupt the Midtown skyline in a way that makes even jaded commuters stop and look. It’s free, it’s on a public street, and it’s a perfect 10-minute walk from Grand Central. Go at golden hour when the bronze catches the late light between buildings. You will not be alone, but it’s worth it.
The Bushwick Collective: Still the Gold Standard
Starts at Jefferson Street, continues along Troutman Street to Saint Nicholas Avenue, Brooklyn
The Bushwick Collective was founded in 2012 by Joseph Ficalora and it remains the most concentrated, consistently refreshed open-air mural gallery in the five boroughs. Artists from around the world and from legendary NYC graffiti lineages cycle pieces on and off the walls regularly, which means even if you’ve been before, you haven’t seen what’s up right now. The best route: take the L to Jefferson Street, walk Troutman toward St. Nicholas, then loop back via Wyckoff. Allow two hours if you want to photograph everything. The walk is completely free; guided small-group tours run $35–$60 if you want context from a local artist.
Brownsville King of Love: A 150-Foot Monument by Marka27
326 Rockaway Avenue, Brownsville, Brooklyn
Artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez painted a 150-foot mural titled “Brownsville King of Love” that remains on view through April 2026. Brownsville is not on the tourist trail, which is exactly why this is worth the trip — you get one of the largest public art pieces in the city without the Instagram swarm of Bushwick. Take the 3 train to Rockaway Avenue, walk a block, look up. Bring a wide lens or plan to step back across the street to fit the whole thing in a frame.
“Limes” by Alumbra — Celebrating Caribbean Brooklyn
Washington Empire Plaza, Empire Boulevard and Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
Latina women-led artist collective Alumbra installed “Limes” at Washington Empire Plaza, transforming the space into a community gathering plaza that celebrates the area’s Caribbean identity. The title plays on the Caribbean term “lime,” which means to spend time with others. The installation is on view through April 2026 — meaning this is one of your last weeks to see it before it rotates out. Combine with a Crown Heights food crawl (jerk chicken on Nostrand, doubles on Flatbush) for a full-afternoon plan.
“Fear No Frontier” in Downtown Brooklyn
Near the Jay Street busway, Downtown Brooklyn
NYC-based artist Isolina Minjeong’s “Fear No Frontier” mural is on display near the Jay Street busway through June 2026, giving you a couple of months of runway. If you’re crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot (an underrated NYC afternoon in its own right), this is a natural stop on the Brooklyn side. Downtown Brooklyn has quietly become one of the denser public art corridors in the outer boroughs — the MetroTech commons and DUMBO waterfront add another full afternoon of pieces to see.
The Bronx: “Weaving the Future” at Grand Concourse
Grand Concourse and East Fordham Road, Bronx
Bronx-based artist Yafatou Sarr’s “Weaving the Future: A Vessel of Water, Roots, and Community” is up through June 2026 at one of the Bronx’s most heavily trafficked intersections. Sarr’s work layers symbolic imagery of community, water, and ancestry. Pair with a walk south on the Grand Concourse — the street itself is one of the great underrated architectural corridors in New York, lined with Art Deco apartment buildings that feel frozen in 1935.
Astoria: Welling Court Mural Project
Welling Court, Astoria, Queens
Welling Court is the quieter cousin of the Bushwick Collective — a community-driven outdoor gallery where artists from around the world contribute murals in a small residential pocket of Astoria. Because it’s less crowded, you can actually photograph without waiting for 20 people to clear a frame. The N/W train to Astoria Boulevard puts you within a 10-minute walk. Combine with a Greek lunch on Broadway afterward and you have a full cultural Saturday.
High Line: Public Art on a Park in the Sky
Entry points along 10th Avenue, Manhattan (Gansevoort to 34th Street)
The High Line rotates sculptural and mural commissions continuously — visit thehighline.org/art to see what’s currently installed. The combination of elevated views, planted gardens, and large-scale public art makes this one of the highest density-per-block art experiences in the city. Free, open until 10pm most nights, and significantly less crowded on a weekday afternoon than on a weekend.
How to Plan a Full-Day Street Art Route
- Morning (Manhattan): Start at Park Avenue for Fragile Giants, walk the High Line, stop for coffee in Chelsea.
- Afternoon (Brooklyn): L train to Jefferson for the Bushwick Collective. Allow 90 minutes to two hours.
- Late afternoon (Queens): N train to Welling Court for the quieter alternative. Greek dinner in Astoria to finish.
- Weekend option: Brownsville for Marka27 + Crown Heights for Alumbra’s “Limes.” Catch the last weeks of both.
Tips for Street Art Hunting in NYC
- Go on overcast days: Even lighting reads murals better than harsh noon sun.
- Respect the neighborhoods: These are working-class streets, not theme parks. Photograph the art, not the residents, and keep your volume down.
- Check dates before you travel: Temporary installations rotate. “Limes” and “Brownsville King of Love” both come down at the end of April — prioritize those this week.
- Bring a wide lens or step back: Most murals are too big for a phone at arm’s length. Crossing the street usually gets the shot.
The city is, on any given week, one of the largest free outdoor art museums in the world. The only admission fee is a subway swipe. Put on walking shoes.
