3. Francoise Schein’s Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk (1985)

Hidden public art: Francoise Schein’s Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk (1985)

Francoise Schein’s Greene Street installation is often overlooked by passersby — it’s literally under their feet! The brass sculpture Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk was commissioned in 1985 by real estate developer Tony Goldman, who wanted to beautify the area in front of his building. Set directly into the Soho pavement, the installation invites pedestrians to follow the twisting lines of the subway system with their feet. 

The sculpture’s bending 90-foot rail lines do not faithfully replicate the MTA system; instead, they stretch and twist fantastically like veins flowing through the human body. At night, the sculpture is illuminated with LED lights embedded in the basement ceilings of adjacent buildings, bringing the sparkling installation to life. Beaming into the darkness, the map is an astonishing sight on the nocturnal streets of Soho. For over 35 years, it’s been a shining beacon of public art hidden in plain sight, enhancing the journeys of those lucky enough to spot it.