Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
NSFW Photos: Dozens Of Naked People Get Fully Bodypainted In Washington Square Park
By
Scott Lynch
Published Jul 16, 2018
Modified Jul 16, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Scott Lynch / Gothamist
View all 24
By
Scott Lynch
Published Jul 16, 2018
Modified Jul 16, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
For the fifth year in a row, Andy Golub and the Human Arts Connection threw a very public and very nude party, gathering some 50 artists and 60 completely naked models in Washington Square Park for a Saturday afternoon of body painting.
It was part celebration of positive body image, part demonstration of this unique art form, and part declaration of freedom of expression, as full public nudity is protected in NYC if it's part of an artistic performance. Golub has previously explained what he's trying to do with his shows, saying, "People are preoccupied with the sexuality of the body... I’m trying to move the conversation beyond that."
The activities of NYC Bodypainting Day started over by the General Giuseppe Garibaldi statue, as the artists and models did their thing in barricaded pens beneath tents, which provided shade while the barricades served to hold back the photographers, art appreciators, and gawkers who showed up in full force.
After everyone was fully covered in their often elaborate designs, the whole show moved over beneath the Washington Square Arch for a pair of songs—"Imagine" and "This Land Is Your Land"—led by "Crazy Piano Guy" Colin Huggins. The crowd also belted out "Happy Birthday" for Golub. Next there was a photo-op sitting on the steps in the park's famous fountain, followed by a brief parade through the Village and a double-decker bus ride over the Manhattan Bridge.
Tagged
andy golub
bodypainting day
NSFW
washington square park
Scott Lynch
Photojournalist, food writer, preschool receptionist. Love NYC.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .