When visiting New York City, it’s not necessary to go to a museum or art gallery to see art. The city is full of outdoor art that is free to enjoy, from sculptures to murals. Artwork can be found everywhere: parks, sidewalks, and the sides of buildings. NYC locales such as Central Park, the High Line, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art feature a wide variety of artwork for people to enjoy. Other locations in the boroughs, like Brooklyn and Queens, also showcase art pieces such as massive sculptures and eye-popping murals.
Since all the art is free, anyone can take the time to do a DIY walking tour to enjoy the best outdoor artwork.
Immersive Art, Floating Chairs, And Giant Pigeon
MoonGARDEN is an art installation that first debuted in Montreal and is now located at Pier 17 by Fulton Street and Seaport Square until February 2025. It’s a new art installation that is worth braving the cold to enjoy the immersive experience. MoonGARDEN consists of 20 spheres that range in size from 6 feet to 30 feet in diameter.
People can interact with the spheres using their smartphones, as each orb responds to light sources. Flashing a phone’s flashlight will make the sphere react. The display is also the perfect backdrop for a photo on social media.
Floating fifteen feet above Union Square are two pink chairs facing each other. As part of a new art installation on display until May 2025, the chairs soar above the middle of the park. Risha Gorig, composer and sculptor, is the artist behind the installation and has named the project “The Space Between Us.” According to Gorig, the chairs represent the act of public discourse rising above the chaos of the city—a literal elevation of conversation.
Pigeons are everywhere in New York City, and most New Yorkers don’t give them much attention. They even call the common bird “flying rats.” However, a 16-foot tall aluminum pigeon perched on the High Line is anything but a flying rat. Created by artist Iván Argote, the huge pigeon is called “Dinosaur” and will be on display until April 2026. The hyper-realistic bird is meant to challenge the tradition of who and what is monumentalized. It’s also an exploration of ideas around migration and the “long view of history.” The proposal for the pigeon statue was one of the most controversial a few years ago.
Stars and Lanterns Shining Bright
A new installation in the Financial District has been announced by the Downtown Alliance. Until January 9, visitors can attach their wishes to a star-shaped steel frame that lights up. The frame is made out of 1,200 colorful chains and is designed by studio Hou de Sousa. People can pick up pre-printed wish tags in rainbow colors at the Downtown Alliance’s partners, including the Blue Spoon Coffee Company, Mercer Labs, New York Marriott Downtown, and other area businesses.
The Garment District has a new public art installation titled “New Start, New Hope” by local artist Xin Song. It features 135 ornate lanterns that glow in blue, green, and red and are strung in the air across the three Broadway plazas. The lanterns have different patterns resembling diamonds, flowers, and shamrocks. The installation will be on the Broadway Plazas until January 2025.
Wall Street Animals
Outside the World Trade Center, the artistic duo Gillie and Marc, known for larger-than-life wildlife sculptures, is exhibiting a variety of animal sculptures. This display includes the world’s largest octopus sculpture, which spans 36 feet and weighs close to 7 tons. Interwoven among the octopus’s eight tentacles are endangered species. The interactive bronze works, called “Wildlife Wonders,” feature their two iconic characters, Rabbitwoman and Dogman. The exhibit will remain until July 2025.
