Book Talk: Contemporary Art Underground

EventIn Person

In Partnership with Housing Works

On Wednesday, October 23 from 6-8 PM, join us for another installment of the Municipal Art Society + Housing Works author series. Writers Sandra Bloodworth and Cheryl Hageman, will discuss their new book, Contemporary Art Underground, with MAS President, Elizabeth Goldstein.

Contemporary Art Underground is a tremendous collection celebrating more than 100 major public art commissions throughout the New York transit system. The book explores how more than four million subway riders and commuters enjoy this exceptional collection of art daily. Join us in October to hear about Sandra and Cheryl’s work with MTA Arts & Design, and learn how the book came to be.

Light refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase. Doors at 6 PM. Event at 6:15 PM. Email events@mas.org with any questions.

About the Book

Contemporary Art Underground presents more than 100 permanent projects completed between 2015 and 2023 by MTA Arts & Design. This ground-breaking program of site-specific projects by a broad spectrum of well-known and emerging contemporary artists has helped to create a sense of character and place at subway and commuter rail stations throughout the MTA system. Among the featured artists are Yayoi Kusama, Kiki Smith, Nick Cave, Ann Hamilton, Xenobia Bailey, Jim Hodges, Alex Katz, Sarah Sze, and Vik Muniz.

Of special interest is the discussion of fabricating and transposing the artist’s rendering or model into mosaic, glass, or metal, the materials that can survive in the transit environment. This is the definitive survey of the latest works of the internationally acclaimed MTA Arts & Design collection. On view 24 hours a day, the collection is seen by more than four million subway riders and commuters daily and has been hailed as ‘New York’s Underground Art Museum.’ The collection enlivens stations in all boroughs, with a myriad works by major contemporary artists executed in mosaic, glass, metal, and ceramic. Read more here >

Wednesday, October 23
6:00 PM — 8:00 PM

Housing Works Bookstore
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012

Tickets:
Free!

Attend
  • Speakers: Sandra Bloodworth, Elizabeth Goldstein, and Cheryl Hageman.
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  • "Contemporary Art Underground: MTA Arts & Design New York" by Sandra Bloodworth and Cheryl Hageman, with a foreword by Hilarie M. Sheets. Credit: Monacelli Press - Phaidon.
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Meet the Speakers

Sandra Bloodworth, Featured Writer
Sandra Bloodworth is the former Director of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Arts & Design, an award-winning public art program that has transformed New York’s Century-old transportation network into a first-rate museum. Bloodworth joined the MTA in 1988 and became director in 1996. Over three decades, Bloodworth shepherded works of art installed in subway and rail stations including those by Nick Cave, Elizabeth Murray, Yoko Ono, Jacob Lawrence, Kiki Smith, Yayoi Kusama, Ann Hamilton, Firelei Baez, Vik Munoz and Alex Katz. Under her leadership, MTA Arts & Design gained increasing renown as a leader in art in the field of public transportation by creating a collection of nearly 400 public artworks that are beloved by millions. Bloodworth is the recipient of the Sloan Public Service Award, the Gary Melchers Award from the Artist’s Fellowship, and and will be awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal by the Municipal Arts Society in November, along with Yoko Ono and Patti Smith.

Cheryl Hageman , Featured Writer
Cheryl Hageman is deputy director of MTA Arts & Design, responsible for commissioning new projects and maintaining the permanent art collection throughout the MTA system. She is co-author of the book “Contemporary Art Underground,” published by Monacelli Press in April 2024. Cheryl has applied an in-depth knowledge of materials and fabrication to produce and care for award-winning artworks during her two decades as an arts administrator.

Elizabeth Goldstein, Moderator
Elizabeth joined MAS as its President in February 2017. Elizabeth has an extensive background in parks and historic preservation advocacy and management. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has worked to insure transparent public engagement in civic decisions of consequence to public space and the heritage of key places across the United States. Prior to returning to her NYC roots, Elizabeth was most recently the President of the California State Parks Foundation from 2004 to 2016. Prior to that she was the General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (1999 to 2004), and the Western Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation (1994-1999). Her work in parks includes the New York City Regional Director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (1989-1994), the Director of Planning for the New York City Park Department (1986-1989) and the Chief of Staff of the Manhattan Borough Office of NYC Parks. Elizabeth graduated from Beloit College. Elizabeth is a past co-chair of the City Parks Alliance and board member of numerous non-profit boards.