City Approves Art to Beautify NYC Sidewalk Sheds

Since 2023 the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) has been on a mission to make sidewalk sheds and other pieces of protective street structures less ugly. Last year the department launched the City Canvas program which allows for the city’s more than 300 miles of construction fences and sidewalk sheds to be transformed into canvases for art. Today, the city released eight pre-approved works of art that building owners can license to spice up the drab green structures that are too prevalent throughout the city.

Each of the eight pre-approved works was selected from responses to an open call released in January 2024. The selected artists are Ebony Bolt, Lauren Camara, Neko Jiang, Venazir Hannah Martinez, Annette Weintraub,  Zazu Swistel,  Nikki Scioscia, and Bayeté Ross Smith. All eight took a different approach to capturing daily life in New York City and the result is a diverse selection of colorful illustrations, collages, and photographic works. The gallery of pre-approved artwork will grow as more pieces are selected.

The goal of the gallery is to provide building owners with a selection of art to choose from, therefore streamlining the process of getting it on the sidewalk sheds. Before the pre-approved art was selected, building owners would commission unique site-specific works and submit them for approval to the DCLA. This is still an option. Now, with the pre-approved designs, building owners can simply choose which they want to display and the DCLA connects them directly with the artist for licensing.

In the latest episode of the Untapped New York Podcast, we talk all about why sidewalk sheds are green and what other initiatives are in progress to get them down faster and make them look better!

You can see all eight artworks on the DCLA website and examine renderings of what each piece looks like when applied to various sidewalk structures. Which artwork is your favorite?

Next, check out Must-See Art in July