Public Art Initiative

In 2015, Former Marcus Garvey Park Alliance President, Connie Lee organized the Public Art Initiative an ongoing cultural equity initiative that strives to preserve cultural identity and celebrate the creative culture that Harlem is famous for.

The Public Art Initiative committee is comprised of arts professionals and community stakeholders, serving as comprehensive and collaborative partners, working with uptown artists, women artists Black and Latinx artists. Artists are encouraged to contact us to discuss their ideas and learn how we can partner with them to help facilitate their projects.

Currently on View

Reclining Liberty, Zaq Landsberg, 2021. On view in Morningside Park, May 07,2021 – April 25, 2022.

Reclining Liberty, Zaq Landsberg, 2021
Photo Connie Lee

Temporary Public Art Installations 2019 – 2020

Roots on Fire, Susan Stair, 2019 On view August 18, 2019 – August 1, 2020 Harlem Art Park, East 120th Street and Sylvan Place (Lexington and 3rd Avenue)

Stair was awarded funding from UMEZ Arts Engagement, partnering with the Public Art Initiative of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance to bring the installation to life. Additional funding was provided by the Public Art Initiative, an ongoing cultural equity initiative of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance sponsored in part by The Durst Organization .

La Flor De Mi Madre, Naomi Lawrence, 2019 On view July 9, 2019 – June 25, 2020. Park Avenue and 121st Street along the elevated train tracks.

Lawrence was awarded funding from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Creative Engagement. The Marcus Garvey Park Alliance served as a fiscal sponsor and provided additional funding through the Public Art Initiative program sponsored in part by The Durst Organization.

Eat Me!, Capucine Bourcart, 2019, On view July 9, 2019 – June 25, 2020. Park Avenue and 120th Street along the elevated train tracks.

Eat Me! was commissioned by the Public Art Initiative of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance sponsored in part by The Durst Organization.

Temporary Public Art Installations, 2018 – 2019

Peaceful Perch, Kim Dacres and Daniel Alexander Matthews, 2018, On view Oct 21, 2018 – September 30, 2019. Marcus Garvey Park, located near the 120th Street and Fifth Avenue Entrance to the park.

Peaceful Perch is made possible with funding provided by the Public Art Initiative of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance sponsored in part by the Harlem Community Development Corporation.

I Don’t Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Ah Me….. Jose’ Carlos Casado, North East Oval Lawn, Marcus Garvey Park located near the 123rd and Madison Avenue entrance to the park. On view October 21, 2018 – September 30, 2019

I Don’t Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Ah Me……. is made possible in part with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Additional Funding was provided by the Public Art Initiative of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance and sponsored in part by The Harlem Community Development Corporation.

Present Histories: An East Harlem Photo Album, Kathleen Granados, 2018, On view August 10, 2018 – August 9, 2019. Harlem Art Park East 120th Street between 3rd and Lexington Avenues.

Mural in White Park 2017 – Present

East Harlem At Play: A Mural in White Park, 2017, Giannina Gutierrez, Jeremy Vega and Ralph Serrano. The Mural installed September 2017 will remain on view indefinitely.

Atlas of the Third Millennium, Jorge Luis Rodriguez, 2016/2017 The sculpture will be on view through October 2018. Funding for this project was provided by the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance, Harlem Community Development Corporation and NYSCA

Also in 2017

The Marcus Garvey Park Alliance was invited to collaborate with the Wallach Art Gallery, Hunter East Harlem Gallery and artist in residence Jason Lazarus to create the Uptown Artist Portrait. About 150 artists posed for the portrait in Marcus Garvey Park.

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Temporary Public Art Installations 2016

Various artists sponsored in part or in full by the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance Public Art Initiative with funding provided by the Harlem Community Development Corporation and DOT Arts.