These vibrant artworks will brighten up NYC scaffolding
Clockwise from top left: Ebony Bolt, “The Jungle and The City;” Lauren Camara, “Paper Stories;” Neko Jiang, “Hidden Forest;” Venazir “Hannah Martinez,” The Shaping of New York; “Annette Weintraub,” The Myrtle Walks; “Zazu Swistel,” The Urbanite’s Clinic For Decadence and Decay; “Nikki Scioscia,” Plant Walk; “Bayeté Ross Smith,” Our Kind of People. Image courtesy of DCLA
Unsightly scaffolding and sidewalk sheds in New York City are getting a makeover. The city unveiled eight pre-approved vibrant artworks available to building owners looking to transform the green eyesores into platforms for beautiful public art. Overseen by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), the City Canvas program aims to improve the pedestrian experience and provide local artists an opportunity to display their work in prominent locations.
The eight artists whose work is featured in the gallery were selected through an open call released this past January. The artists received a stipend to create the artwork and can receive additional compensation if selected by site owners, which can be negotiated between the two parties. Site owners are also able to commission original, site-specific artworks.
“Art in public spaces has the power to give voice to our communities, to make our city more livable and more beautiful, and to make the mundane into the magnificent!,” DCA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo said.
“I’m so proud to unveil these incredible new City Canvas designs, each displaying a unique approach and sensibility that will bring color and life to the drab green scaffolds across our city. With these pre-approved designs, it’s now easier than ever for property owners to install artwork, while supporting artists and turning eyesores into platforms for public art.”
The eight pre-approved artwork designs and artists are:
- Ebony Bolt, “The Jungle and The City,” 2024
- Lauren Camara, “Paper Stories,” 2024
- Venazir Hannah Martinez, “The Shaping of New York,” 2024
- Neko Jiang, “Hidden Forest,” 2024
- Bayeté Ross Smith, “Our Kind of People,” 2024
- Nikki Scioscia, “Plant Walk,” 2024
- Zazu Swistel, “The Urbanite’s Clinic For Decadence and Decay,” 2024
- Annette Weintraub, “The Myrtle Walks,” 2024
City Canvas is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ “Get Sheds Down” effort to address the city’s abundance of sidewalk sheds and scaffolding. As of last year, the five boroughs had approximately 400 miles of sidewalk sheds. While designed to be temporary, the sidewalk sheds are often in place for years.
The initiative was first established as a pilot program in 2018 and made permanent with the adoption of Local Law 163 in 2001, which amended the city’s Charter and Building Code to allow for the display of artwork on temporary protective structures like sidewalk sheds and construction fencing.
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