2. West 8th Street at the New York Aquarium

The MTA’s Arts for Transit initiative of 1985 spearheaded an ambitious project to incorporate works of art to breathe new life into the city’s crime-ridden subway. In 2005, the MTA revealed a completely new West 8th Street station at the New York Aquarium. Artist Vito Acconci worked with a team of architects to design a stunning structure made of steel, ceramic tile, and fiberglass that evokes both the infamous Cyclone roller coaster and the waves of the nearby ocean. Check out more photos here.