Visit New York City’s Second Avenue Subway for World-Class Art

New York City’s much-delayed Second Avenue subway finally opened Jan. 1. The decades-delayed project aims to improve commutes to and from the Upper East Side, but the four stations along the line also feature world-class art exhibitions.

Passengers pay only $2.75 — the price of a subway ride — to enjoy artwork from renowned artists like Chuck Close, Sarah Sze, Vik Muniz and Jean Shin. The collection represents the largest permanent public art installation in New York state history.

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“The Second Avenue subway provides New Yorkers with a museum underground and honors our legacy of building engineering marvels that elevate the human experience,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference. “Public works projects are not just about function — they’re an expression of who we are and what we believe. Any child who has never walked into a museum or an art gallery can walk the streets of New York and be exposed to art and education simply by being a New Yorker. That is where we came from and that is what makes New York special.”

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Chuck Close, famous for his intricate, large-scale works, created a series called “Subway Portraits,” on display at the 86th Street station. Vik Muniz’s “Perfect Strangers” focuses on an array of New Yorkers and features colorful mosaics. Jean Shin’s “Elevated” is based around vintage archival photographs of the 2nd and 3rd Avenue elevated train and people from the era.