A celebration of more than 100 major public art commissions throughout the New York transit
system Contemporary Art Underground presents more than 100 permanent projects completed between
2015 and 2023 by MTA Arts & Design. This ground-breaking program of site-specific projects by a
broad spectrum of well-known and emerging contemporary artists has helped to create a sense of
character and place at subway and commuter rail stations throughout the MTA system. Among the
featured artists are Yayoi Kusama Kiki Smith Nick Cave Ann Hamilton Xenobia Bailey Jim
Hodges Alex Katz Sarah Sze and Vik Muniz. Of special interest is the discussion of
fabricating and transposing the artist's rendering or model into mosaic glass or metal the
materials that can survive in the transit environment. This is the definitive survey of the
latest works of the internationally acclaimed MTA Arts & Design collection. On view 24 hours a
day the collection is seen by more than four million subway riders and commuters daily and has
been hailed as 'New York's Underground Art Museum.' The collection enlivens stations in all
boroughs with a myriad works by major contemporary artists executed in mosaic glass metal
and ceramic. A celebration of more than 100 major public art commissions throughout the New
York transit system Sandra Bloodworth is director of MTA Arts & Design and the principal author
of Along the Way and New York's Underground Art Museum. Under her leadership MTA Arts & Design
has gained renown in the field of public transportation by creating a collection of nearly 400
public artworks. Bloodworth is the recipient of numerous awards including the Sloan Public
Service Award and the Gari Melchers Award from the Artist's Fellowship. Cheryl Hageman is
deputy director of MTA Arts & Design responsible for commissioning new projects and
maintaining the permanent art collection throughout the MTA system. She has applied an in-depth
knowledge of materials and fabrication to produce and care for award-winning artworks during
her two decades as an arts administrator. Hilarie M. Sheets writes frequently on public art for
the New York Times and the Art Newspaper.
