Destinations / New York City / Top Things to Do in New York City for Street Art Fans on the Upper West Side
Top Things to Do in New York City for Street Art Fans on the Upper West Side
1. Banksy’s Hammer Boy
A rare, preserved Banksy from the artist’s 2013 citywide intervention, this stencil shows a child swinging a sledgehammer at a real standpipe—classic Banksy wit embedded in everyday streetscape.
✓ Why Go:
It’s the Upper West Side’s most famous piece of street art and one of NYC’s few protected Banksys—essential viewing for any street art fan.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Early morning for softer light and fewer pedestrians; midday sun lights the south-facing wall.
✓ Insider Tip:
The work is on the 79th Street side of the corner building; grab a coffee at nearby Zabar’s and take your shot straight-on to avoid plexiglass glare.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors love the thrill of finding a genuine Banksy in the wild; locals appreciate how the neighborhood has safeguarded it.
2. 66 St–Lincoln Center station mosaics
Nancy Spero’s glass mosaics—figures of divas, dancers, and acrobats—line the platforms in a lyrical homage to the performing arts just above at Lincoln Center.
✓ Why Go:
This is museum-quality art underground, merging feminist iconography with UWS culture—perfect for fans of mosaics and narrative public art.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Midday or late evening to avoid rush-hour crowds; platform lighting keeps colors vivid.
✓ Insider Tip:
Enter at Broadway and West 66th Street to encounter panels near the northbound side first, then cross for different vignettes.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Commuters-turned-spectators linger to photograph panels; art lovers call it an unexpected gallery beneath the city.
3. 72 St (B/C) SKY by Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono’s expansive SKY mosaics bring a serene canopy of clouds and hopeful phrases to the station closest to the Dakota and Strawberry Fields.
✓ Why Go:
A poignant link between the neighborhood’s Lennon legacy and contemporary public art—calming, photogenic, and deeply site-specific.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late morning for even light; avoid weekday rush hours for clear views.
✓ Insider Tip:
Use the Central Park West & 72nd Street entrance; the mezzanine offers the broadest sightlines for wide shots.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Travelers describe an immediate lift in mood; locals say it makes routine commutes feel like a walk in the sky.
4. 81 St–Museum of Natural History station art
An immersive suite of mosaics and inlays—fossils, fauna, celestial maps—created with the museum’s input, turning platforms into a science-and-art diorama.
✓ Why Go:
It blends street art sensibilities with natural-history storytelling—ideal for fans who love thematic, site-specific work.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Early afternoon after school groups thin; lighting accentuates texture and detail.
✓ Insider Tip:
Look for the geological ‘strata’ motifs by stairways and the denser vignettes on the southbound platform; there’s also an underground passage to the museum.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Families and art-spotters rave about its scale and educational flair—“like a free annex to the museum.”
5. 86 St (B/C) Parkside Portals
Joyce Kozloff’s Parkside Portals mosaics shift from aerial maps of Central Park to close-ups of Beaux-Arts and Art Deco details, even nodding to Seneca Village.
✓ Why Go:
A cartographic-meets-architectural love letter to the neighborhood, it’s a rich stop for mosaic and history enthusiasts.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Midday for balanced platform light; weekend mornings are calmer.
✓ Insider Tip:
Hunt for the Seneca Village map element and seasonal tree frames; the mezzanine railings offer good vantage points.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Praised for transforming the station into a neighborhood portrait; many say they see CPW differently afterward.
6. 86 St (1) Westside Views by Nitza Tufiño
Community-made ceramic murals from 1989 depict everyday Upper West Side life—Broadway medians, local landmarks, and transit moments—on both platforms.
✓ Why Go:
A quintessential example of grassroots public art in transit, capturing neighborhood identity with warmth and detail.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late morning or early evening; avoid peak commuter rush for uninterrupted viewing.
✓ Insider Tip:
Explore both uptown and downtown platforms to see all 30+ panels; bring a longer lens for tighter compositions across tracks.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Nostalgic and neighborly—visitors love spotting scenes they just walked past topside.
7. Strawberry Fields Imagine mosaic
In Central Park just off W 72nd, this Neapolitan-crafted black-and-white roundel bearing “IMAGINE” anchors a living memorial to John Lennon.
✓ Why Go:
Part pilgrimage, part public art—its symbolism, setting, and constant floral tributes make it a must for mosaic and music lovers.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Early morning for solitude; late afternoon light is lovely but busier, often with live acoustic tributes.
✓ Insider Tip:
Enter from Central Park West at 72nd Street; step back for symmetrical shots and wait for gaps between groups.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Described as moving and reflective; many call it a highlight of their UWS wander.
8. Broadway Malls public art (Verdi Square)
The landscaped medians along Broadway host rotating sculpture exhibitions curated with NYC Parks and the Broadway Mall Association.
✓ Why Go:
It’s an open-air gallery that changes with the season—recent shows range from whimsical giants to elegant abstract forms.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Golden hour for dramatic shadows on sculpture; daytime for color and detail.
✓ Insider Tip:
Start at Verdi Square (72nd Street) and stroll north; check current installations before you go to spot all five or more sites.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Locals love the surprise of stumbling on new works; visitors praise the free, walkable art trail up Broadway.
9. Always in Bloom mural (UAGC Garden)
A 54-foot mural created with CITYarts and students at the Urban Assembly School for Green Careers; the garden also features a mosaic Peace Pond and painted furniture.
✓ Why Go:
A community-driven street art spot that showcases youth voices and sustainability themes right on Amsterdam Avenue.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Daylight hours for visibility; look for announced open-garden events to step inside.
✓ Insider Tip:
If gates are closed, you can still see the mural from the sidewalk; pair it with a coffee on Amsterdam and a short walk to the 81 St station art.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Neighborhood pride runs high—people love that teens helped transform the wall into vivid, hopeful art.
10. Frederick Douglass Circle
A powerful memorial plaza at the northwest corner of Central Park with an eight-foot bronze of Douglass, a water wall, star maps, and quilt-inspired paving.
✓ Why Go:
It’s public art with layered symbolism—history, craft, and pattern come together at the UWS/Harlem gateway.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoon for warm light across the bronze and patterned stone; evenings are quieter.
✓ Insider Tip:
Trace the constellation wall and textured paving for details you’ll miss at a glance; combine with a walk down CPW to the 81st/72nd station mosaics.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors call it contemplative and photogenic; locals value it as an inclusive, artful threshold to the neighborhood.
