Destinations / New York City / Top Things to Do in New York City for Street Art Fans in Queens
Top Things to Do in New York City for Street Art Fans in Queens
1. Welling Court Mural Project
A several-block, ever-changing outdoor gallery in Astoria where neighborhood walls, roll-down gates, and fences become canvases for global and local artists.
✓ Why Go:
It’s Queens’ most concentrated cluster of murals—walkable, photogenic, and community-rooted—so you can see dozens of styles in one compact loop.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekday mornings for clear sightlines and fewer parked cars; late spring through fall often brings fresh paint and brighter light.
✓ Insider Tip:
Start near the cul-de-sac and work clockwise; bring a wide-angle lens to handle tight streets and mind driveways and residents’ stoops.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors praise the neighborhood vibe and variety, calling it an authentic, open-air art crawl that rewards slow exploration.
2. MoMA PS1
Queens’ powerhouse for contemporary art frequently extends outdoors with large-scale wall pieces and courtyard installations amid LIC’s mural-dotted blocks.
✓ Why Go:
Street art fans appreciate the crossover—museum-grade experimentation steps into public space, and the surrounding streets carry the urban-art energy.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoons on weekdays for easier entry and softer light on exterior works; summer often features outdoor pieces.
✓ Insider Tip:
Loop Jackson Avenue and Davis Street after your visit—there are photogenic facades within a 5–10 minute walk.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Guests value the blend of cutting-edge exhibits and gritty LIC streetscapes, noting it as a perfect anchor for an art-filled day.
3. Socrates Sculpture Park
A waterfront park where monumental outdoor works rotate against skyline and river views—street-art spirit meets sculpture scale, always free and open.
✓ Why Go:
It pairs the spontaneity of public art with curated exhibitions, making it ideal for street art fans who love site-specific pieces.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Golden hour (late afternoon) for long shadows and sunset over Manhattan; May–October typically brings the fullest slate of installations.
✓ Insider Tip:
Combine with a stroll to the nearby Noguchi Museum for a high-low public art pairing in one short walk.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Travelers rave about the space, views, and creative range, often calling it a Queens must for outdoor art lovers.
4. Rockaway Beach Boardwalk Murals
Color-splashed seawalls, concession stands, and skate-park surfaces along the boardwalk celebrate surf culture and Queens creativity with bold, seaside murals.
✓ Why Go:
It’s a rare coastal canvas—street art meets beach day—so you can pair wave watching with wall hunting.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Early mornings or late afternoons in summer for flattering light; off-season weekends offer unobstructed views and quieter paths.
✓ Insider Tip:
Start at Beach 98th Street Skate Park and roam east and west; bring sunscreen and a windbreaker for ocean breezes.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors describe a breezy, upbeat vibe, noting the artworks pop against the Atlantic backdrop; wind and sand are the only trade-offs.
5. A Tribe Called Quest Mural
A beloved tribute in St. Albans along the group’s co-named boulevard, where hip-hop heritage and street art meet for a true Queens pilgrimage.
✓ Why Go:
For fans of music and murals alike, this stop connects cultural history to a striking, photo-ready wall in the group’s home borough.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoon for even facade lighting; weekdays tend to be calmer than weekends.
✓ Insider Tip:
Snap the mural, then check out the nearby street signs and grab bites from local Caribbean spots along Linden Boulevard.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Frequent words are “iconic” and “meaningful,” with visitors urging respect for the site and surrounding community.
6. 5Pointz LIC
The former graffiti landmark lives on in new facades and reliefs at the rebuilt complex—an homage to the site that once defined NYC aerosol art.
✓ Why Go:
Street art fans come for the context: see how LIC evolved and find curated tributes that nod to the area’s legendary past.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Daylight hours to appreciate textures and details along Jackson Avenue and Davis Street.
✓ Insider Tip:
Walk the full perimeter, then continue to PS1 a few minutes away to round out an LIC art loop.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Mixed nostalgia and curiosity—many miss the original, yet appreciate the visible acknowledgments of its legacy.
7. Noguchi Museum
Isamu Noguchi’s serene indoor–outdoor museum offers a minimalist counterpoint to mural hunting, with a tranquil sculpture garden steps from LIC walls.
✓ Why Go:
Public-art lovers value the dialogue between street spontaneity and Noguchi’s refined forms—two sides of Queens’ art spectrum.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Morning openings for calm galleries; spring and fall light flatter the courtyard stone and trees.
✓ Insider Tip:
Buy timed tickets on busy weekends and pair the visit with Socrates Sculpture Park a short walk away.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors call it meditative and beautifully curated, a restorative pause between street art stops.
8. Elmhurst Sculpture Garden
A community-run lot turned creative haven where murals, installations, and performances reflect Queens’ grassroots energy.
✓ Why Go:
It’s hyperlocal and evolving—perfect for street art fans who love DIY spaces and neighborhood-led projects.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekend afternoons during warm months for the best chance of catching new works or community events.
✓ Insider Tip:
Follow the garden’s socials for volunteer paint days; be respectful of adjacent homes and keep noise low.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Guests praise its welcoming, community-first feel and the surprise factor of finding art in a residential nook.
9. Kaufman Arts District Murals
Around Kaufman Astoria Studios you’ll spot film-district facades, gates, and side streets enlivened with murals and creative signage.
✓ Why Go:
It’s an easy add-on to Astoria’s cultural corridor, blending movie history with street-level visuals in a compact area.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Daytime for access and light; evenings offer cinematic glow from marquees and studio lights.
✓ Insider Tip:
Stroll 35th Avenue between 34th and 36th Streets and don’t miss the studio gate before heading to nearby museums.
✓ What Visitors Say:
People enjoy the variety and the neighborhood buzz, though filming days can restrict certain angles.
10. Sutphin Boulevard Underpass Murals
Bright, large-format works transform the Jamaica transit underpass into a vivid corridor linking LIRR, subway, and AirTrain.
✓ Why Go:
It shows how street art can reimagine everyday infrastructure and spotlights Southeast Queens’ cultural identity.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Midday for natural light and visibility; avoid peak rush hours to keep your photo-ops stress-free.
✓ Insider Tip:
Use this as a jumping-off point for a Jamaica Avenue food crawl; stay aware of traffic and keep gear close.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Travelers applaud the bold makeover and neighborhood pride, noting the setting is lively and urban in all the right ways.
