Murals unveiled in Long Island City

The street of Long Island City got a little more colorful. Photo courtesy of LIC Partnership

By Rachel Vick

Large scale art is back in Long Island City, bringing splashes of color to an urban landscape shaped by the pandemic and facing the start of winter.

“LIC (Re)Connects,” features four installations across Long Island City and the digital world to bring art to the community.

“LIC (Re)Connects is our own love letter to the people of LIC,” said Elizabeth Lusskin, president of Long Island City Partnership.

“The projects are a testament to the spirit, ingenuity and cross-pollination uniquely found in LIC,” Lusskin added. “As neighbors return to their homes, kids return to school, visitors rediscover our museums and workers head back to the office, we encourage everyone to take a moment to enjoy this public art that brightens our streetscape.”

The projects were all conceived by local artists and created in Long Island City.

“Floral Festivity,” a construction site mural from graffiti artist Andrea Von Budjoss a.k.a Queen Andrea, transforms what would otherwise be another construction wall into something with the power to inspire creativity.

Similarly, the overpass of the Thomson Avenue Bridge is now covered by “Unity and Diversity," a colorful mural by artist No Cap, representing the diversity that has helped define Queens with inspiration from nearby LaGuardia Community College fine arts program participants.

“Reclaiming spaces for beautiful public art projects is increasingly important to all New Yorkers,” said visual artist No Cap. “The Thomson Avenue bridge is like a gateway to Long Island City, particularly for the students and faculty at LaGuardia Community College. The colorful braiding of the mural design commands the attention of passersby, and I hope will become instantly recognizable to all those who view it.”

“Dichroic Vessels” is an Instagram filter created by digital artist Alexis Zerafa to correspond with “The Ribbon,” installed in Court Square by LIC-based design firm Hive Public Space in collaboration with The Urban Conga.

Each of the two magenta structures are covered in LIC Love Notes from members of the community, and passersby are encouraged to submit their own notes through the end of the year by using QR codes on the site.

The art will remain up through 2022.