Re-route for Art
A small detour for a dose of inspiration
Shake up your routine! Re-route for art and visit free public art projects around the city on your commute, during your lunch break, while visiting a new neighborhood, or as part of a city adventure. Whether it’s a quick stop to see Fred Eversley: Parabolic Light for a midtown lunch break in Central Park, taking a new evening commute from Moynihan Train Hall to visit Elmgreen & Dragset: The Hive, or arriving to LaGuardia Airport early to experience Sarah Sze: Shorter than the Day, a few minutes can result in meaningful and serendipitous artistic encounters.
In addition, connect further with exhibitions through a slate of free public programs—ranging from artist talks to hands-on artmaking workshops to performances.
Give your summer picnics, outdoor dates, travel experiences, and more an artful twist! Share your inspiring adventures by tagging @PublicArtFund on social media, and check out #RerouteForArt to follow others’ journeys!
Art-Filled Itineraries
Lower Manhattan to DUMBO Brooklyn
CITY HALL PARK TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
Art meets nature and architecture as you make your way across the Brooklyn Bridge. Cannupa Hanska Luger: Attrition in City Hall Park explores the history of bison and their interconnectedness with nature and Indigenous cultures. Pair your visit with a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian nearby. Then, board a NYC Ferry or venture across the bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 3 Uplands to discover Huma Bhabha: Before The End. These four monumental sculptures stand elevated above the earth, conjuring a sense of mystery and ambiguity. Invite a friend with you and engage them in conversation about the work.
Want to make a day out of it? Continue your adventures in DUMBO with a bite to eat at Time Out New York Market, a visit to Smack Mellon and AIR Gallery, or a walk with Arts in DUMBO. Or, catch a ferry to Governor’s Island to explore Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s art on view.
Midtown East
CENTRAL PARK TO MOMA
Take your lunch break outdoors at Doris C. Freeman Plaza, located at the southeast corner of Central Park! This longtime home for Public Art Fund exhibitions was named after our founder. Visit Fred Eversley’s Parabolic Light (on view through August 25) or Edra Soto’s GRAFT (opening September 5).
Want to make a day out of it? Head south to the Museum of Modern Art, but before you enter, make sure to look for Rachel Whiteread: Water Tower on the roof – it’s a Public Art Fund exhibition that is now part of the museum’s permanent collection. Or take a stroll through Central Park to explore nature and several artworks and statues.
Broadway to Lower Manhattan
BROADWAY GALLERY TO NMAI
Your first stop is Broadway Gallery, where you can experience Sky Hopinka’s powerful exhibition Unforgiven Souls Sing Hymns. Hopinka’s work is a mesmerizing blend of video, photography, and text that explores themes of homeland, language, and memory. It’s a must-see for anyone passionate about contemporary Indigenous art.
Next, head to City Hall Park to check out Cannupa Hanska Luger’s Attrition. This stunning 10-foot-long bison sculpture, surrounded by grass indigenous to the region, symbolizes resilience and survival. It’s an invitation to reflect on the complex histories of the city and the enduring spirit of the bison.
Make a final stop at the National Museum of the American Indian, where two incredible exhibitions await. Infinity of Nations takes us on a journey through ten geographic regions, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of Indigenous cultures across the Americas. You can learn more about the Plains region where Cannupa is from. In Native New York, discover the enduring connection between Indigenous peoples and their homeland, despite centuries of displacement and change. This exhibition highlights the deep-rooted ties to the land and the resilience of Native communities. It also places emphasis on sharing Indigenous histories and makes connections between the city as we know it today while detailing the narrative of what it once was.
From Broadway Gallery to City Hall Park, and finally, the National Museum of the American Indian, this itinerary offers an insightful exploration of Indigenous art and history. Reroute to learn more about the cultures that shape our world.
Summer 2024 Exhibitions
CITYWIDE
Adrienne Elise Tarver: She Who Sits
August 14–November 19, 2024
JCDecaux Bus Shelters Across New York City, Boston, & Chicago
MIDTOWN
Fred Eversley: Parabolic Light
On view through August 25, 2024
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park
Edra Soto: GRAFT
Opens September 5, 2024
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park
Nina Chanel Abney and Jacolby Satterwhite
On view through June 2024
David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center
Stan Douglas, Elmgreen & Dragset, and Kehinde Wiley
On permanent view
Moynihan Train Hall
DOWNTOWN
Cannupa Hanska Luger: Attrition
June 5–November 26, 2024
City Hall Park, Lower Manhattan
BROOKLYN
Huma Bhabha: Before The End
On view through March 9, 2025
Pier 3 Uplands, Brooklyn Bridge Park
TRAVEL TERMINALS
Karyn Olivier and Layqa Nuna Yawar
On permanent view
Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal A
Jeppe Hein, Sabine Hornig, Laura Owens, and Sarah Sze
On permanent view
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B
In addition, Public Art Fund is organizing free summer programs to encourage deeper engagement with exhibitions on view.