Art in the Parks

Stretching across the entirety of Lenox Academy's basketball court, this mural captures the essence of courage, love, and valor through a dynamic portrayal of two iconic figures, Lover Boy and Lenox Academy Mascot. At the top stands Lover Boy, a beloved character known for his unwavering compassion and empathy is the King of Hearts. Opposite stands the Fox King, representing the indomitable spirit of Lenox Academy's mascot. The Fox King exudes confidence and determination, urging students to channel their inner strength and tenacity on the court. Despite their differences, the King of Hearts and the Fox King share a profound connection, symbolizing the unity of love and courage in the pursuit of victory. Our hope is as students step onto the royal court, they are enveloped by the mural's powerful message: to be brave, loving, and valiant in both sport and life.

This exhibition is presented by Project Backboard and the NYC Department of Education.

Table Talk honors the resilience, creativity, and unity of Brownsville. It is part of Pitkin Avenue BID’s efforts to uplift Zion Triangle as a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring public space for all. The installation offers a space for neighbors to come together, share stories, exchange ideas, and find moments of rest and reflection. Translucent hexagons capture and refract light, casting a dynamic, colorful glow onto the surface below. Each hexagon has a handwritten message from community members responding to the prompt: “Brownsville is…”

This exhibition is presented by the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene and the Pitkin Avenue BID.

This mural was created by Vanesa Alvarez Diaz and features the northern waterthrush and fox gloves, goldenrod, boneset, aster, milkweed, rudbeckia, echinacea, tulips, and petunias. As part of the Audubon Mural Project, a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change, NYC Parks GreenThumb partnered with National Audubon Society,  Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals on sheds at GreenThumb community gardens across New York City. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and community garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds that rely on green spaces like these urban gardens and native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter.

This mural was created by Yukiko Izumi and features the blackpoll warbler and black-eyed Susan, elderberry, New England aster, blue wild indigo and tall boneset. As part of the Audubon Mural Project, a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change, NYC Parks GreenThumb partnered with National Audubon Society,  Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals on sheds at GreenThumb community gardens across New York City. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and community garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds that rely on green spaces like these urban gardens and native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter.

A work from the artist’s Monuments to Motherhood series, the fifteen-foot-tall bronze sculpture honors caregiving in all its forms, recognizing those who nurture, sustain, and support their communities—often in ways that go unseen. Across the country, public statuary rarely reflects these essential contributions, and the role of care remains largely overlooked in civic spaces. This sculpture offers a powerful acknowledgment of those whose labor holds society together and stands as a testament to the generations that came before us.

This exhibition is presented by the Prospect Park Alliance.

This piece depicts the legend of the alligator in the NYC sewers. It deals with two interesting aspects of our world; our need for gods, myths, and legends much like any other civilization prior to ours, and our habit of creating invasive species by moving animals from their natural habitats to human environments.

This exhibition is presented by Mollbrinks Gallery.

Created by Brooklyn-based artist Tiffany Baker, this fence installation is part of a multi-site mural exhibition that turns the voices of Gowanus residents into public art and illustrates their experiences with flooding in the neighborhood. To create The Dear Neighbor Project, Tiffany connected with community leaders, local organizations, business owners, and residents to learn more about the impact of flooding in Gowanus. She then organized interviews with residents about their personal experiences with flooding, ranging from long-time residents to newer arrivals, and middle schoolers to older adults. Her art installations illustrate and directly quote from these residents’ stories — sharing their experiences, advice, and stories of community support during flood events.

This exhibition is presented by the Van Alen Institute.