NYC DOT Art

Colorful logo for the NYC DOT Art program.

NYC DOT’s public art program—NYC DOT Art—partners with community-based nonprofit organizations and professional artists to present temporary public artwork on eligible NYC DOT infrastructure throughout the five boroughs. Asphalt, bridges, fences, jersey barriers, medians, plazas, sidewalks, step streets, streetlight poles, and triangles serve as canvases and foundations for temporary murals, projections, sculptures, and interventions.

NYC DOT Art also coordinates conservation and maintenance of NYC DOT’s permanent art collection and collaborates with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Percent for Art Program to commission permanent art as part of the Percent for Art law.

Current Opportunities

» Apply to NYC DOT Art Partners (pdf) and be sure to review the Site Selection Guide (pdf) before applying – Deadline: Rolling
» Save the date for the NYC DOT Art Partners Webinar on Zoom March 12, 2025 at 12pm before applying – Deadline: Rolling
» Mural Artist RFQ on Submittable – Deadline: Sunday, March 16, 2025 by 11:59 pm EST

Connect with NYC DOT Art

View photos of temporary art installations and permanent art on Flickr Sign up for the NYC DOT Art e-newsletter Contact: arts@dot.nyc.gov Follow @nyc_dotart on Instagram

Temporary Art Program

NYC DOT Art has permitted over 475 temporary public art installations citywide and continues to pursue unique public art installations in collaboration with a diverse body of artists and partner organizations. Temporary art is only permitted in fully pedestrianized spaces for up to 11 months.

Interested organizations and artists are invited to submit proposals and qualifications in response to open calls for both NYC DOT-funded initiatives and self-funded opportunities.

All submissions are reviewed by the NYC DOT Art Advisory Committee, a panel of outside arts professionals representing varying disciplines and all five boroughs, and at times an open call-specific panel, based on the following criteria: public safety, artistic merit, site suitability and artwork durability.

NYC DOT Art Partners (Self-Funded)

Inspire your community through public art.

NYC DOT Art Partners (formerly “Arterventions”) invites community-based organizations to exhibit temporary artwork such as murals, sculptures, or interventions on NYC DOT property in collaboration with professional artists.

Apply to NYC DOT Art Partners – Deadline: Rolling Save the date for the NYC DOT Art Partners Webinar on Zoom March 12, 2025 at 12pm

Examples of partner organizations include arts and community-based organizations, Business Improvement Districts, nonprofits, galleries, artist-in-residence programs, arts councils, museums, cultural institutions, community centers, and other nonprofit community-based organizations. Artists are ineligible to apply without the support of a partner organization.
Partner organizations may request necessary permits to display temporary artwork that is newly commissioned or existing. Installations typically remain on display for three to six months, with a maximum display period of 11 months. Partner organizations are responsible for funding these projects, selecting the artist and artwork, project management, carrying insurance, signing a legal agreement, and maintaining artwork during the display period.
Partner organizations are encouraged to review the Site Selection Guide before proposing potential sites and may contact us at arts@dot.nyc.gov to confirm site ownership in advance of submission. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
A series of rings illuminate at night in NYC as people talk into the art installation.
Spectrum by Mirari Studio from QDSinternational in partnership with Flatiron Nomad Partnership

NYC DOT Art Opportunities (NYC DOT-Funded)

Murals

Colorful murals are painted on curb extensions in Lower Manhattan. The designs are based on various patterns from traditional Chinese culture such as clothing, porcelain, and architecture.
The Beauty of Four Life Essentials asphalt art murals by Chenlin Cai

NYC DOT Art commissions artists to design and paint temporary murals onto fully pedestrianized asphalt spaces, concrete jersey barriers, and other eligible NYC DOT infrastructure. Professional artists may apply to NYC DOT Art’s biennial open call soliciting qualifications to be selected for inclusion in an artist registry, and the opportunity to be short-listed to create a proposal for specific mural opportunities. Selected artists receive a project fee to execute the mural.

Organizations interested in commissioning self-funded asphalt art on a self-selected site should apply through NYC DOT Art Partners.

Learn more about our open call for mural artists (pdf). Apply for our Mural Artist RFQ via Submittable – Deadline: Sunday, March 16, 2025 by 11:59 pm EST

Installations at NYC DOT Events

A huge bouquet of flowers takes over a wide pedestrian area in Flatiron
Broadway Bouquet by Terrain Work

NYC DOT hosts large-scale, car-free events, such as Summer Streets and Car-Free Earth Day, to reimagine the streets of New York City as more inviting public spaces without the noise and congestion of cars.

NYC DOT may commission interactive public art installations for designated sites along an event route. Artwork must be removed post event hours. Additional details provided in event-specific open call.

Digital Illustrations

A women stands behind a large sign with the letters N-Y-C covered in colorful designs of people biking, greenery on top of a red and orange background.
NYC Art Stop Letters designed by Ebony Bolt

NYC DOT Art commissions artists to design digital illustrations for a variety of projects including aluminum street signage, printed vinyl fence wraps, NYC DOT Art Display Cases, NYC Art Stop Letters, or other special projects.

Professional artists may apply to NYC DOT Art’s biennial open call soliciting qualifications to be selected for inclusion in an artist registry, and the opportunity to be short-listed to create a proposal. for specific digital illustration opportunities. Selected artists receive a project fee to execute the project.

Community Commissions

Community Commissions is a signature NYC DOT Art initiative in which the agency collaborates with community-based organizations to commission artists to design and install temporary public art on NYC DOT infrastructure citywide.

View photos of past Community Commissions art installations on Flickr

Community-based partners are identified by NYC DOT through an open call based on their experience planning public programs or public art, the ability to monitor and maintain the artwork, the capacity to hold liability insurance, and a direct connection to the site.

NYC DOT identifies priority sites for temporary art that are: in need of beautification, large enough to accommodate artwork, and accessible to a diverse audience.

An open call is released in partnership with community partners to solicit proposals from professional artists for a list of priority sites. NYC DOT collaborates with selected artists to implement projects within one year of approval. In addition to a project fee, NYC DOT provides engineering support for sculptural installations.

Permanent Art Collection

NYC DOT collaborates with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) to commission permanent public art as part of capital construction projects dictated by the Percent for Art ordinance. NYC DOT is responsible for managing and maintaining its permanent art collection.

Visit the DCLA’s Percent for Art Program’s website View NYC DOT Art’s permanent art collection (pdf)

Public Access asphalt art mural by Mollie Hosmer-Dillard in partnership with On Your Mark, located on Victory Boulevard and Corson Avenue on Staten Island.
Public Access asphalt art mural by Mollie Hosmer-Dillard
A large, pink sculpture of a person laying down is set up in a median between two lanes of traffic in Long Island City.
Sunbather sculpture by Ohad Meromi