“Aunties” by Fitgi Saint-Louis. Courtesy of NYC DOT
New York City has commissioned five vibrant pieces of art, one in each borough, to enliven public spaces. On Wednesday, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced plans for temporary, site-specific pieces through the agency’s Community Commissions initiative. The projects range from sculptures to asphalt murals, including “Public Access” on Staten Island, “Aunties” in Manhattan, “Limes” in Brooklyn, “Weaving the Future: A Vessel of Water, Roots, and Community” in the Bronx, and “About a Living Culture” in Queens.
Launched in 2008, Community Commissions is a cornerstone of DOT’s Art initiative, which partners with community-based organizations to commission artists to create temporary, site-specific public art on DOT infrastructure. Installations appear on medians, triangles, sidewalks, and asphalt, and remain on display for up to 11 months at selected community sites.
Artists were selected through an open call, based on artistic merit and proposals that reflect a strong connection to the site’s cultural context and the mission of the partnering organization. Community-based partners were chosen through a 2023 request for proposals, based on their commitment to supporting art in their communities. This marks the first iteration of Community Commissions since 2020.
“Each of these five installations uses our streets as canvases to encapsulate New York City and the resilience of its residents,” Rodriguez said. “Community Commissions is a cornerstone initiative of NYC DOT Art, and I thank our talented artists and dedicated community partners for their unwavering commitment to bringing these projects (and our streets) to life!”
The first of five works, “Public Access” by Mollie Hosmer-Dillard, has been on view since September 2024 in a pedestrianized asphalt space at Corson Avenue and Victory Boulevard in Staten Island. Created in collaboration with partner organization On Your Mark, the piece features an infinity symbol and other shapes in the colors of the Disability Pride Flag.
The artwork not only enhances the pedestrianized space but also extends the organization’s community-based programming, which provides innovative and comprehensive services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will remain on view through August 2025.
Located on 124th Street and Lenox Avenue in Manhattan, Fitgi Saint-Louis’ “Aunties” honors the women who have long nurtured and empowered the Harlem community. These monumental figures have shaped culture, guided organizations, influenced style, and mobilized the community across generations.
Created in collaboration with the West Harlem Art Fund, the piece features large-scale figures that embody the towering spirit of these community uplifters, deliberately spaced to invite viewers to stand between them.
“Aunties” honors the ongoing contributions of these women to the “collective fabric” of Harlem’s past, present, and future. The public art will be on display through April 2026.
“It’s a true honor to represent Manhattan in the NYC DOT Art Community Commission cohort and to have this work mounted in my own neighborhood,” Fitgi Saint-Louis said.
“Accessible public art is vital in creating inspiration in our urban landscape and affirming in reflecting our daily lives. I chose to create a piece highlighting a collective of women and their integral role within our community of Harlem.”
Created by the Latin women-led artist collective Alumbra, “Limes” is a temporary installation transforming Washington Empire Plaza in Brooklyn into a vibrant community gathering space that celebrates the area’s Caribbean identity. The title references the Caribbean term “lime,” meaning to spend time with others.
The installation features three metal benches woven in colorful patterns, offering a welcoming spot for locals to rest, gather, and engage. It was developed through a collaborative process with I AM Caribbeing that invited community participation in its design and installation. “Limes” will be on display through April 2026.
Measuring six feet tall, Yafatou Sarr’s “Weaving the Future: A Vessel of Water, Roots, and Community” is a sculptural installation inspired by traditional African water vessels. Adorned with intricate crochet, the piece was created in collaboration with the Concourse House community.
To be installed at Grand Concourse and East Fordham Road in the Bronx, the sculpture draws on imagery developed during workshops with local mothers and children, reflecting themes rooted in the Gambia, Sarr’s homeland.
The design includes a woven sun, a flowing river, fish, and a dense network of mangroves—symbols of resilience, sustenance, and cultural connection. Through this collaborative process, the sculpture honors ancestral traditions while celebrating the futures they shape. It will be on display through June 2026.
The first public sculpture by Nepali artist IMAGINE, also known as Sneha Shrestha, is a nearly six-foot-tall golden arch composed of repeated rows of “Ka,” the first letter of the Nepali alphabet. In Nepali culture, archways often mark religious and sacred spaces, encouraging those passing by to look through and receive divine blessings.
The sculpture, created in collaboration with the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, will be on view in Queens’ Diversity Plaza at Roosevelt Avenue and Broadway through November 2025.
DOT also recently unveiled a new piece of public art, or “asphalt art,” as part of its Shared Streets program near the Jay Street busway in Downtown Brooklyn. Titled “Fear No Frontier,” the mural was created by NYC-based artist Isolina Minjeong and draws on her Korean and Peruvian heritage. The bold design features powerful creatures like tigers and dragons, paying tribute to the resilience of New Yorkers.
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