To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its public art program, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation presents 40 art installations at parks throughout the five boroughs. All exhibitions are free and open to the public in this outdoor gallery.

In October 1967, Sculpture in Environment, the City’s first group exhibition of temporary public art, used the cityscape as a new context for works by Claes Oldenburg, Barnett Newman, George Rickey, and others. Since then, the Parks Department has hosted over 1,000 temporary outdoor art displays in parks Citywide. The works displayed have included both readymade sculpture and installations inspired by the characteristics and landscape of a specific site.

Some of the major exhibitions have included: Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely (1968); Louise Nevelson (1972); Mark di Suvero (1975); Henry Moore (1984); Noah’s Art group show (1989); Fernando Botero (1993); Keith Haring (1997); Whitney Biennial (2002, 2004); Otterness on Broadway (2004); and Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates (2005).

“Art in the Parks” exhibitors this October include key partners such as the Public Art Fund, Creative Time, Socrates Sculpture Park, Madison Square Park Conservancy, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and the Storefront for Art and Architecture, as well as galleries and independent artists. We are also grateful to the Museum of Modern Art for its participation

Download the Citywide Art in the Parks Map (PDF, 5 MB) Download the Art in the Parks Brochure (PDF, 323 KB) Additional Press Materials