“Camouflage” by Ai Weiwei

Seeking a new landscape within the bounds of New York City, this week we ventured to Roosevelt Island, a narrow strip of land nestled between Manhattan and Queens. While the island is known for its striking views and the Four Freedoms Park at its southern tip, which honors President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our visit was inspired by a more recent addition: “Camouflage”, a new work by Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, and a part of the Art X Freedom public art initiative. Unveiled on September 10, 2025, to mark both the 80th United Nations General Assembly across the East River and the anniversary of the end of World War II, Weiwei’s installation reimagines the space surrounding the existing bronze sculpture of Roosevelt, building a pavilion that incorporates animal motifs. These elements are a nod to both the island’s historical and current wildlife and the toll of human conflict. Adding an interactive layer to the experience, visitors are invited to tie ribbons inscribed with their thoughts on freedom to the pavilion’s netting, transforming the piece over time, one ribbon at a time. “Camouflage” is a moving and immersive tribute to both its setting and enduring themes of humanity and resistance. By blending memory, environment, and participation, it creates a powerful and evolving reflection on what freedom means today.

“Dear New York” by Brandon Stanton

This week, we happened upon “Dear New York,” a striking new exhibition at Grand Central Terminal. Conceived by artist Brandon Stanton, who is best known for his work “Humans of New York,” and produced in collaboration with the MTA, Pentagram, Juilliard, Korins Studio, and NYC Public Schools, the installation transforms one of the city’s most iconic public spaces into a powerful celebration of everyday New Yorkers.

Replacing the advertisements that typically adorn the space, Stanton’s immersive art installation of vivid photographs fills the terminal. Each photograph captures authentic moments and stories from across the five boroughs. In the grand concourse, 50-foot projections cycle through portraits and quotes, set to a moving live piano performance that adds emotional depth to the experience. A particularly meaningful section features portraits of individuals nominated by NYC students, accompanied by heartfelt notes explaining why their nominee inspires them.

“Dear New York” is more than an art installation, it’s a love letter to the city and its dwellers, as well as a reflection of its diversity, resilience, and creativity. It also highlights the transformative potential of public art in urban spaces. If you're in the area within the next two weeks, through October 19th we encourage you to visit and celebrate humanity.

“Don’t ASK” by Allison Katz

As a slight chill descends on New York, we sought comfort from the changing seasons at one of our favorite places for public art, the High Line, to observe Allison Katz’s Don’t ASK. Hovering above the intersection of 18th Street and 10th Avenue, Don’t ASK features two oversized chickens mid-crosswalk, playfully referencing the classic anti-joke: “Why did the chicken cross the road?” But rather than providing an answer, the installation leans into uncertainty, highlighting possibility, anticipation, and the unknown. Katz’s piece reflects her interest in roads and transportation systems, not just as infrastructure, but as symbols of thought in motion. The road becomes a metaphor for ideas, transitions, and open-ended futures. Visually, Don’t ASK mimics the towering advertisements that define New York City’s skyline. However, instead of selling a product, it reclaims the billboard format to provoke reflection rather than consumption. In a city of constant movement and noise, Don’t ASK offers a quiet interruption, a thoughtful invitation to pause, consider, and embrace not knowing.

“What’s so Funny About Peace Love and Understanding” by Adam Cvijanovic

This week, we visited the recently dedicated mural “What’s so Funny About Peace Love and Understanding” at the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of New York City, a work named in reference to the song popularized by Elvis Costello. Created by Brooklyn-based artist Adam Cvijanovic, the mural marks the first major art commission at the cathedral since 1949.

Standing at roughly 21 feet tall and comprised of four segments that frame the cathedral's entrance, the mural is a sweeping visual narrative. It depicts the arrival of immigrants to New York City in the 19th century and today, alongside powerful imagery of first responders and traditional Catholic iconography.

Cvijanovic’s work is an artistic feat that seamlessly blends Catholic tradition with American pluralism. Drawing inspiration from Baroque drama, Byzantine iconography, and modernist abstraction, the mural honors the diversity of New York and the immigrants who have shaped the city’s identity. This vibrant addition to St. Patrick’s Cathedral is both a spiritual and civic celebration, one that will continue to inspire for generations to come.