Destinations / New York City / Top Things to Do in New York City for Street Art Fans in Long Island City
Top Things to Do in New York City for Street Art Fans in Long Island City
1. MoMA PS1
Queens’ contemporary-art anchor where large-scale installations, courtyard commissions, and facade pieces often blur the line between museum and street aesthetics.
✓ Why Go:
Street art fans appreciate PS1’s experimental edge, outdoor works, and frequent collaborations that echo urban visual culture—perfect context for understanding NYC’s mural movement.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Afternoons Thursday–Monday; late-day light flatters outdoor works and the courtyard. Summer weekends often add outdoor programming.
✓ Insider Tip:
Walk the block around the museum—adjacent walls on Jackson Ave and 46th Ave rotate with fresh pieces influenced by PS1’s scene.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors call it raw, adventurous, and very LIC—great value and easy subway access.
2. SculptureCenter
A non-collecting museum in a converted trolley repair shop that spotlights experimental sculpture and installations with an urban, industrial feel.
✓ Why Go:
Shows frequently spill into courtyards and architectural nooks—catnip for street art fans who love scale, texture, and site-specificity.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Midday, Thursday–Monday, for quiet galleries and good daylight in the exterior spaces.
✓ Insider Tip:
Pair with a wander along Purves St. and Jackson Ave—nearby walls often carry commissioned or pop-up murals.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Praised as intimate yet bold—audiences love its risk-taking exhibitions and photogenic industrial bones.
3. Culture Lab LIC
Community arts hub on Anable Basin with galleries and an outdoor lot where concerts and seasonal happenings flank colorful murals.
✓ Why Go:
Street art thrives here in a DIY spirit—shows and activations often include live painting and neighborhood collaborations.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoon into golden hour on event days (spring–fall) for murals plus music in the lot.
✓ Insider Tip:
Check the exterior walls along 46th Ave before stepping inside—you’ll often find new pieces tied to current exhibitions.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Locals call it LIC’s creative heartbeat—welcoming, eclectic, and community-forward.
4. Top to Bottom Project (43-01 21st St)
A warehouse wrapped in multi-story murals by renowned artists—an enduring post-5Pointz statement in Court Square.
✓ Why Go:
It’s one of LIC’s densest clusters of large-format pieces—ideal for learning composition, layering, and letter styles up close.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Morning light for the 21st St facade; overcast days reduce glare for true-color photos.
✓ Insider Tip:
Circle the entire block—rooflines, loading bays, and side walls carry different artists and palettes.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Widely loved as a free, open-air gallery; visitors note constant discoveries with every lap.
5. The Green House
Residential building turned canvas, featuring towering FAILE murals visible from Vernon Blvd and Jackson Ave.
✓ Why Go:
Shows how contemporary developers are commissioning street artists—great case study of mural design at architectural scale.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoon for directional light on the east elevation; evenings capture neon and car trails below.
✓ Insider Tip:
Shoot from the corner of Vernon Blvd & 50th Ave to frame the full-height figures without wide-angle distortion.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Photographers rave about the bold color and scale—an instant LIC icon.
6. Nas Mural (Queensbridge)
A portrait tribute near Queensbridge Houses honoring the rapper’s roots—an essential stop for hip‑hop and street art culture.
✓ Why Go:
Connects graffiti, music, and neighborhood history—context that shaped NYC style and lyricism.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Mid-morning light; weekdays are quieter for unobstructed shots.
✓ Insider Tip:
Combine with a short walk along 21st St to spot additional pieces and neighborhood tags.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Fans describe it as powerful and personal—many call it a pilgrimage wall.
7. Prodigy Mural (Queensbridge)
A memorial mural to Mobb Deep’s Prodigy on the Urban Upbound wall near the Queensbridge community center.
✓ Why Go:
Pairs street art with community advocacy—artwork that speaks to legacy and local pride.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Afternoon for even light on 40th Ave; avoid harsh midday glare.
✓ Insider Tip:
Respect the space—this is an active nonprofit hub; step back across 13th St for the cleanest full-frame photo.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors find it moving and dignified—an anchor of Queensbridge storytelling.
8. Dutch Kills Green
A redesigned plaza at Queens Plaza with artist-designed elements and a gritty-elevated-rail backdrop that photographers love.
✓ Why Go:
While not a mural wall, it frames urban texture—great for street-style portraits and documenting LIC’s infrastructure aesthetics.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Golden hour under the elevated for dramatic shadows; weekdays are lively with commuters.
✓ Insider Tip:
For navigation, plug in the nearby Hilton Garden Inn—then walk one block to the Green for the best angles under the tracks.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Considered a raw, urban vignette—travel shooters enjoy its cinematic lines and layers.
9. Stream (Court Square–23rd Street)
Elizabeth Murray’s glass mosaic “Stream” brightens the station passageway—proof that transit art can rival gallery work.
✓ Why Go:
Street art fans appreciate how public art enters daily life; the color fields echo graffiti palettes and motion.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Non-rush hours for clear views; midday yields the steadiest foot traffic breaks for photos.
✓ Insider Tip:
Enter via the One Court Square side to see the piece en route to transfers—have a metro card ready to keep moving.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Regulars say it energizes the commute—unexpected, bright, and quintessentially NYC.
10. Pepsi-Cola Sign
The landmark neon script on LIC’s waterfront—pop art meets skyline, a must-shoot for letterform lovers.
✓ Why Go:
Though not graffiti, it’s a defining piece of Queens visual culture and a perfect cap to a street-art day.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Blue hour into night when the sign glows and reflections shimmer on the East River.
✓ Insider Tip:
Frame it from the riverwalk in Gantry Plaza or from the piers for leading lines; ultra‑wide lenses shine here.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Iconic and romantic—visitors gush about the glow, river breeze, and Manhattan backdrop.
