The faces of 1,200 New Yorkers now greet visitors outside of the Port Authority bus terminal

October 15, 2021

All photos: Alexandre Ayer / @DiversityPics for the Garment District Alliance.

The Port Authority bus terminal in Midtown may not be one of New York City’s most beautiful places, but the world’s busiest terminal recently got a beauty boost in the form of a 40-foot-high, 600-foot-wide gallery wall that features the diverse and fabulous faces of over 1,200 New Yorkers. The Garment District Alliance (GDA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) have collaborated to bring the giant photo gallery, “Inside Out: NY Together,” part of an international initiative by world-renowned artist JR, to the Manhattan bus gateway.

Over the course of five days last week, a photo booth truck on West 40th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues offered passersby a chance to have their portraits taken to be featured in this unique celebration of the city’s diversity and resilience. The public art installation will remain in place through spring 2022.

“As we continue to welcome New Yorkers and visitors back to our city, we are so proud to launch Inside Out: NY Together in the Garment District to honor the strength and resiliency of New York City and celebrate the diversity of our communities,” Barbara Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance, said.

“This unique project will shine a spotlight on the amazing, everyday people of the Garment District and our city, who contribute to the iconic character, vibrancy and heartbeat that is felt all over the world.”