Four Subway Stops in Brooklyn with Public Artwork 

Dominique DeVito

1) The Atlantic Avenue Barclays Center stop is the last stop in Brooklyn on the N and D lines. It’s an extremely busy hub and is home to the Hook Line and Sinker installation, by George Trakas. It was installed in 2004 and Trakas collaborated with diDomenico and Partners to build it. Hook is polished and thermal granite installed on the walls, Line is brushed steel and limestone hanging under the skylight, and Sinker is granite installed in the middle of the staircase there. I think the narrative here is that these pieces can be so easily overlooked, I’ve passed this station and been in it so many times and have genuinely never realized these were here. It can be assumed that since this station was once Atlantic-Pacific street, that Hook Line and Sinker has a lot of relevance.     

2) The Brooklyn Museum subway stop (Eastern Parkway) is home to a collection of artwork. The ornamental decorations were once a part of 19th and 20th century NYC buildings. Keystones, plaques and boarders were saved from the demolished structures and now reside in this location. Their purpose is to spread awareness about NY’s architectural richness. They were once part of the Brooklyn Museum collection. They hold so much narrative, due to their age and where they come from.   

3) Located in the Union Street station on the R line, CommUnion by Emmett Wigglesworth is a beautiful depiction. It is comprised of 22 enamel panels displaying a union of black and white patterned hands and faces all in a tangle. This is a deeply rooted reflection of the diverse culture of this neighborhood. The narrative here is the telling of diversity in the surrounding area. This 1994 installation still has as much  relevance today. 

4) At the 18th avenue station on the D line in Bensonhurst, is the Bensonhurst Gardens made by Francesco Simeti in 2012. Much like the Union Street piece, this installation is representative of cultural diversity. Each plant and flower represents the widely diverse neighborhood of Bensonhurst. The work is made up of glass panels, light boxes and depictions of gardens. The images display a landscape with American plants. The piece’s natural appeal is welcomed in this cement ridden section of Brooklyn.