Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

News

Photos: West 72nd Street B/C Subway Station Reopens With Murals By Yoko Ono

Jen Chung

Published Oct 5, 2018

Modified Oct 5, 2018

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 .

View all 24

Jen Chung

Published Oct 5, 2018

Modified Oct 5, 2018

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

After six months of upgrades, the 72nd Street B/C subway station reopened on Thursday with that new station smell (okay, fresh paint and construction dust) and enchanting murals from artist and activist Yoko Ono. "I can't believe it's finally open," one commuter said this morning, taking in the gleaming tiles and new fixtures.

The murals were commissioned from Ono by the MTA Arts & Design after a public call for artists. The MTA notes that the "mezzanine and platform areas" were both areas "where wall tiles were in need of replacement." The site-specific work is called "SKY."

"SKY" comprises six separate mosaics spanning both station platforms and mezzanine. The mosaics altogether measure 973 square feet and show a blue, cloud-filled sky embedded with written messages of hope. As riders move through the subterranean subway station, the messages of hope appear in the clouds as the perspective shifts in each mosaic. The transformation of photographs into mosaic sky paintings with subtle gradations in color and tone has created a visually striking station environment. Two mosaics are above the mezzanine stairs leading to the southbound platform where two more pieces are featured, and one mosaic each is installed on the northbound platform and in the main turnstile area on the mezzanine level.

In a statement, MTA Art & Design Director Sandra Bloodworth said, "Art has the ability to both elevate us and ground us, which is what Yoko Ono’s mosaics bring to this location that has meaning to many riders as well as music fans around the world. Her mosaics remind us that a cloudy sky may be ephemeral but there is always hope."

"I'm thrilled that my new work, "SKY," will be opening at the 72 St subway station just steps from my home and Strawberry Fields, which I created in memory of my late husband," said Yoko Ono. "It will bring the sky underground, so it's always with us. I hope this will bring peace and joy to my fellow New Yorkers for many years to come."

The murals' message are "Imagine peace," "Imagine love," and "Dream"; two more mosaics on the downtown level will be installed by the end of the month. The station is also literally under Ono's home at the Dakota, and is highly trafficked by tourists who visit the Dakota to make a pilgrimage to her and John Lennon's home and Strawberry Fields.

The renovations are part of a previously announced station renewal initiative to improve 30 stations to make them "cleaner, brighter... easier to navigate, with better and more intuitive wayfinding, as well as a modernized look and feel." To achieve that, stations all over the city have been shut down for months. Some transit advocates have criticized the renewal program because it ignores adding accessibility, like elevators, to stations and does nothing to improve train service.

For B and C riders, the newly reopened station was a revelation. I use this station, and I noticed a change as soon as I stepped down one step—the stairs are clean and level, and tile walls were clean and not dingy—at 72nd Street and Central Park West. Then when I stepped to the mezzanine where the station agent booth is located and was struck by how bright and open it felt. The clean floor also made the space seem bigger.

There's legitimate criticism about whether it makes sense for spend so much money on incredible subway stations with world class art when so much of the NYC Transit system needs basic improvements. Nevertheless, NYC Transit president Andy Byford recently announced a reorganization and expansion of subway station managers to make sure the stations are well-maintained.

I asked the station agent if she liked the changes. She smiled and said, "I love it... but the more important question is: Do you love it?"

Tagged

nyc transit

subway

subway renewal

west 72nd street subway

yoko ono

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Early Addition: There's finally stuff inside the Times Square tower where the ball drops

Because it used to sit vacant for most of the year, here are your early links: Rangers goalie scored, "It's a Wonderful Life" coming to Broadway, there's dignity in scaffolding and more.

James Ramsay

Published Oct 2, 2026 at 9:20 a.m. ET

NYC subway dragging death highlights an old school MTA failsafe

The man dragged to death by a subway train in Brooklyn earlier this week put riders across the city on edge.

Ramsey Khalifeh

News

NYC subway dragging death highlights an old school MTA failsafe

The man dragged to death by a subway train in Brooklyn earlier this week put riders across the city on edge.

Ramsey Khalifeh

We were the victim': Brooklyn shelter's new CEO speaks after corruption scandal

Ryan Kost

Badly burned body found in a trashed and abandoned Jamaica Queens lot, NYPD says

Brittany Kriegstein

Brooklyn DA brings back warrant-clearing event as quality-of-life tickets surge

Ben Feuerherd

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 .