Pennsylvania Station, a major train station in Manhattan, wasn’t known for its contemporary art—until recently. In January 2021, New York City officials revealed the station’s long-awaited expansion: Moynihan Train Hall. The new hall displays art by American artist Kehinde Wiley, above left, and Berlin-based duo Elmgreen & Dragset, above right. The site-specific works bring new life to the busiest commuter hub in the Western Hemisphere.
At an entrance to the hall, visitors look up to see Wiley’s masterpiece on the ceiling. The artist hand-painted the glass triptych (a set of images presented in three parts), titled Go. In each section, break-dancers float across a blue sky. Wiley adds fluffy clouds and realistic birds, referencing classic European frescoes— elaborate works painted directly on ceilings and walls. The panels are backlit, illuminated for onlookers below.
Elmgreen & Dragset’s The Hive depicts a cityscape mounted upside down on the ceiling of the main entrance. They made the towers using steel, aluminum, and polycarbonate, a tough, transparent plastic. The artists took a fantastical approach, including models of high-rise buildings from cities around the world. These artists invite commuters to notice their surroundings. How would you revive a busy space in your community?