The call for artists covers the Broadway Junction complex serving the A, C, J, L and Z subway lines, one of the busiest transit hubs in the city. MTA Arts & Design said it is seeking images of artists’ previous work to consider for a site-specific commission that will be installed as part of new construction at the station.

All artistic mediums will be considered, the agency said. Finalists will be asked to develop proposals for artwork in three designated areas, with the selected design translated into approximately 1,000 square feet of mosaic by an approved fabricator. The new work will be placed in dialogue with an existing glass and mosaic installation, “Brooklyn, New Morning,” by Al Loving, installed at the station in 2001.

A selection panel made up of arts and design professionals will choose finalists, according to the MTA. Each finalist will receive a $1,500 honorarium to develop a proposal. One artist will ultimately be awarded the commission. The total budget for design and fabrication has not yet been determined, the agency said.

“The selected artist will be required to produce final designs, select a fabricator and oversee the fabrication and installation of the artwork, with project management by MTA Arts & Design,” the agency said in application materials.

Artists must apply online through the MTA Arts & Design submission portal and submit up to 20 images of prior work, along with a short application form, biography, résumé and artist statement. Submissions must be completed by 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 8.

Broadway Junction is a major transfer point connecting multiple subway lines in eastern Brooklyn and serves hundreds of thousands of riders each week.

The Mural Artist RFQ serves as a mechanism for establishing a registry of qualified artists eligible to develop and install temporary murals on NYC DOT property. This program facilitates the transformation of underutilized street assets into canvases for public art, including asphalt activations, concrete barrier beautification, and various special projects on vertical surfaces. Artists selected through this RFQ will be commissioned for site-specific projects with installation periods ranging from one to eleven months. Funding up to $20,000 for direct project costs, with an artist fee not exceeding 20% of the total budget, is allocated. The deadline for qualifications is February 8, 2026. This process prioritizes artists residing in the United States, with an emphasis on those within New York City and the Tristate Area, thereby leveraging local artistic talent for civic enhancement.

Complementing this, the Signature Events Art Installations RFP 2026 invites professional artists to propose installations for NYC DOT’s major annual car-free events: Car-Free Earth Day and Summer Streets. These events temporarily reimagine significant street corridors as pedestrian-focused public spaces, offering broad public engagement opportunities. Car-Free Earth Day installations are singular, one-day displays, with budgets up to $10,000 covering all project expenses. Summer Streets installations are more extensive, potentially spanning two to five dates and locations. Funding for Summer Streets projects ranges from up to $20,000 for specific borough installations to $50,000 for large-scale projects across all seven locations and five event dates. Proposals are encouraged to include complementary programming, and artists may submit existing artwork. The deadline for these proposals is also February 8, 2026.

Both programs necessitate adherence to stringent criteria established by the NYC DOT Art Advisory Committee and project-specific selection juries. For the Mural Artist RFQ, evaluation focuses on demonstrated artistic proficiency, experience collaborating with large agencies and community groups, and residency requirements. The Signature Events RFP evaluates proposals based on event goals (interactivity, activation, enrichment), artistic merit, site suitability, artwork durability, and public safety. This rigorous evaluation framework ensures that commissioned artworks not only meet high aesthetic standards but also align with the operational and safety mandates of urban public spaces.

These initiatives reflect a strategic approach by the NYC DOT to utilize art as a tool for urban placemaking and public engagement, integrating cultural expression within the city’s extensive transportation network. The structured application and selection processes, coupled with clearly defined project scopes and funding mechanisms, illustrate a governmental framework designed to efficiently commission public art with measurable civic benefits.

The Department of Sanitation has announced the return of one of its most visually arresting programs. The initiative is called Trucks of Art. For the third time since its inception the department is asking local artists to reimagine the massive white collection vehicles that traverse the city grid. The premise is simple yet radical. The city provides the truck and the paint. The artist provides the vision.

This year the project carries a distinct theme of sustainability that goes beyond the imagery on the metal. This is a zero waste challenge. Artists are required to work exclusively with household paints that have been dropped off by residents at special waste sites. The medium is quite literally the message. The materials used to beautify the trucks are the very items that might otherwise have languished in a landfill or a basement.

The Sanitation Foundation which serves as the official non profit partner for the department is overseeing the call for entries. They are offering a stipend of up to 1,500 dollars for selected artists. The deadline for submissions is set for Sunday February 8 2026. The timing suggests that by spring New Yorkers will see a new fleet of mobile murals navigating the avenues.

There is a profound irony at work here. The garbage truck is perhaps the most invisible essential object in urban life. It is massive and loud yet most pedestrians instinctively look away when one passes. By turning these mechanical beasts into roving canvases nearly 400 square feet in size the program forces the public to engage with the infrastructure that keeps their city habitable.

The previous cohorts in 2019 and 2022 produced designs that ranged from floral landscapes to pop art tributes honoring the sanitation workforce. This year priority will be given to proposals that celebrate cleanliness and the workforce that makes it possible.