An Up Close Preview of the Brand New, Art-Adorned Second Avenue Subway Line in New York City

The New York City subway system has always been an incredibly convenient way to traverse the famous city, that is, unless the trip called for travel up and down those streets that are furthest east. Luckily, after many, many years, the plan for a Second Avenue Subway has not only come to fruition, but the first phase (from 96th Street through 63rd Street) will be ready to ride at noon on January 1, 2017 per Governor Andrew Cuomo. Once entirely complete, the newly christened T-line will stretch all the way down to Hanover Square. The New York Times shared their up close preview of the completed first phase.

What follows is the first subterranean tour by a reporter of the new subway’s art, created at a cost to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of $4.5 million, out of an overall budget of $4.45 billion. Four artists were chosen beginning in 2009, from a pool of more than 300 high-profile applicants, to treat the stations as their very own and make them into individual installations.

This new subway line will also feature the artwork of Vik Muniz, Jean Shin, Sarah Sze and Chuck Close.

72ndStreet: Vik Muniz, Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers – Vik Muniz (at 72nd Street)

63rdStreet: Jean Shin, Elevated
Elevated – Jean Shin (at 63rd Street)

96thStreet: Sarah Sze, Blueprint for a Landscape
72157677942834956/”>Blueprint for a Landscape – Sarah Sze (at 96th Street)

86thStreet: Chuck Close, Subway Portraits
Subway Portraits – Chuck Close (at 86th Street)

A photo posted by Chris W (@cjwhitey) on

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.

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