DUMbo has long been known for its indie art scene. today we have 140+ artist studios, dozens of galleries and public art on practically every corner.
ARTWORK ON VIEW OUTDOORS
THE DUMBO PROJECTION PROJECT
A neighborhood-wide video art series, projected onto the BQE and Bridges of Dumbo.
Ongoing.
Where else can you see trucks, taxis and subways passing by atop world class video art! Join us for beauty, whimsy and humanity all on display to brighten the dark days of winter. The Dumbo Projection Project is an ongoing video art exhibit.
THE DUMBO REFLECTOR
Created by David Crumley
Currently on view in the Dumbo Archway
2016 – Present
The ultimate neighborhood welcome sign! The Dumbo Reflector was created in 2016 by artist David Crumley, in honor of the Dumbo Improvement District’s tenth anniversary. Using the Dumbo BID’s logo, its first iteratation functioned as a binary clock, told you the traffic conditions on the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and functioned as a sort of Magic 8 Ball – responding to questions when tweeted at.
Today, it anchors the Dumbo Archway, welcoming all to the neighborhood.
FAT BOY
By Leonard Ursachi
York Street at Adams Street
Fat Boy is one of Ursachi’s “bunker” sculptures. It contains three recessed, mirrored “windows”—referencing a bunker’s embrasures—but Ursachi based its form on a classical Western cherub, or putto. Fat Boy’s title refers to the WWII atomic bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man. With its twin references to Eros and war, Fat Boy speaks to complexities of desire and violence. This sculpture was installed in October 2022, with support from NYC DOT Art – and is the first public art work to grace the newly reconstructed York Street Triangle.
DUMBO WALLS: LOVE MURAL
By Cey Adams
Prospect Street at Adams Street
Part of the “Murals for the Movement” trio produced by Street Theory Gallery, the two-walled “Love Mural” was painted in 2021.
This is a project of the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund, a partnership of the Dumbo Improvement District and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, with additional support from NYC DOT Art.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK x DUMBO BARRICADE ART
By Acrylicize, Alexey Tishkin, Faye Harnest, Isa Marcello, Ji Yong Kim, Leysan Nigmatova, Mitzie Wong, Vanessa Alvarez Diaz and Williams B Perez.
Various locations throughout Brooklyn Bridge Park and Dumbo.
In summer 2023, the Dumbo Improvement District + Brooklyn Bridge Park unveiled the first cohort of Barricade Art Covers. Eleven designs by nine artists were chosen from an Open Call for works. These works will be stationed throughout Brooklyn Bridge Park and Dumbo as placemaking in situ, as well as for street closures, at events, and for other purposes. See all artworks here, and read about the artists in the press release here.
DUMBO WALLS: STEFAN SAGMEISTER +YUKO SHIMIZU
Jay Street Underpass, between York Street & Prospect Street
Part of the original Dumbo Walls series, these YES murals were painted in 2012. The project was presented by the DUMBO Improvement District and Two Trees Management Co in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation Urban Art Program (NYCDOT), Jonathan LeVine Gallery, and the Wooster Collective.
DUMBO WALLS: MASSIVE STAMPEDE
By Craig Anthony Miller
Adams Street between York Street and Prospect Street
CAM created a second mural for the Dumbo Walls series, this time featuring his signature elephant and bird motifs, in 2018.
DUMBO WALLS: ALWAYS MINDFUL
By Craig Anthony Miller
Bar and Grill Park
York Street at Pearl Street
Part of the original Dumbo Walls series, this mural by CAM was painted in 2012. The project was presented by the DUMBO Improvement District and Two Trees Management Co in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation Urban Art Program (NYCDOT), Jonathan LeVine Gallery, and the Wooster Collective.
DUMBO WALLS: BACK TO THE ESSENCE
By Victor “Mark27” Quinonez
195 Gold Street
Part of the “Murals for the Movement” trio produced by Street Theory Gallery, ‘Back to the Essence’ was painted in 2021.
This is a project of the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund, a partnership of the Dumbo Improvement District and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, with additional support from NYC DOT Art.
DUMBO WALLS: MOMO
York Street at Washington Street
Part of the original Dumbo Walls series, Momo’s epic Rainbow Wall was painted in 2012. The project was presented by the DUMBO Improvement District and Two Trees Management Co in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation Urban Art Program (NYCDOT), Jonathan LeVine Gallery, and the Wooster Collective.
DUMBO WALLS: STANDING IN THE GAP
By Sophia Dawson
Front Street between Pearl and Adams Streets
Part of the “Murals for the Movement” trio produced by Street Theory Gallery, ‘Standing in the Gap’ was painted in 2021.
This is a project of the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund, a partnership of the Dumbo Improvement District and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, with additional support from NYC DOT Art.
DUMBO WALLS: HERITAGE I&II
By Apolo Torres
Pearl Street Underpass
Between York Street & Prospect Street
Brazilian-based muralist Apolo Torres came to Dumbo in 2019, in partnership with Brasil Summerfest and NYC DOT Art.
CUSTOM SHADE UMBRELLAS
By Liz Collins
Umbrellas Created in partnership with Sunbrella
Dumbo Archway Plaza
We commissioned Dumbo-based textile artist Liz Collins to create new shade umbrellas for our plazas. She partnered with Sunbrella to create custom fabrics. Enjoy them as you lounge in the newly renovated Dumbo Archway Plaza.
WATERGATE
By Casey Opstad
Dumbo Archway
For this mural, installed in 2013, Casey hand-painted 100,000 half-inch squares according to an eight-color schema inspired by the East River. The pixelated design is a nod to the digital designers of Dumbo and the wave-like motif transports onlookers straight to the Brooklyn waterfront, as if it is just beyond the gate. If all those pixelated squares were laid in a straight line, they would stretch for more than a mile!
PEDRO’S MURAL
By Craig Anthony Miller
73 Jay Street
CAM has had a long mural residency on Pedro’s – one of Dumbo’s oldest businesses! This new piece was painted in 2022.
WATERTOWER
By Tom Fruin
20 Jay Street Roof, viewable from the street.
AMPERSAND
Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects
Corner of Jay street & Front Street
ARTIST STUDIOS
Dumbo has 140+ artist studios – including residency programs and solo workspaces. Twice a year, you can visit our Open Studios events – once in the spring and once for a special Shop the Studios holiday event.
GALLERIES
DUMBO’s gallery scene is thriving, decades after the artists first found this waterfront neighborhood. Today we have more than a dozen independently owned galleries – from fine art paintings to photography to world renowned non-profit gallery spaces like Smack Mellon.
AMR Art Dumbo
An art advisory firm with a dedicated exhibition space to display works from women, men, non-binary, and queer artists.
53 Bridge Street #706
Brackett Creek Exhibitions
Established in Montana, and now with a full-time exhibition space in NYC, Brackett Creek links communities and artists searching for inspiration.
25 Jay Street, Suite A
John St Gallery
A unique gallery featuring eclectic pieces and stunning visuals.
70 John Street
Springs Projects
Founded by lifelong friends, SPRINGS intends to expand upon alternative spaces and work alongside intergenerational and under-exhibited artists.
20 Jay Street #311B
USAGI
Japanese design shop x matcha bar x bookstore x art gallery makes Usagi one of Dumbo's most unique finds.
163 Plymouth Street
SUPERFINE
One of Dumbo's oldest and most beloved establishments, with art, live music, pool and a delicious farm-to-table menu.
126 Front Street
Zarolat
A unique space functioning as an architecture studio and a design collective all in one.
140 Plymouth Street
Billie Elise
Billie provides studio space for artists, designers, and makers to showcase and sell their work!
145 Front Street
AICAD/New York Studio Residency Program
This sixteen-credit program is open to undergraduate and graduate art and design students in New York City
20 Jay Street
New York Studio School Projects
Committed to giving aspiring artists a significant education that can last a lifetime.
20 Jay Street #307
Two Coats of Paint
Offering an art blogazine, residencies, Clubhouse conversations, a catalogue & more.
55 Washington Street #454
A.I.R. GALLERY
Supporting an open exchange of ideas and risk‑taking by women artists-since 1972.
155 Plymouth Street
Cuban Art Space
Promoting the work of Cuban artists, especially those living and working in Cuba, since 1972.
20 Jay Street #301
Main Window
A public art installation space highlighting Brooklyn-based artists since 1980.
One Main Street
Minus Space
Specializing in contemporary reductive abstract art since 2003.
16 Main Street, Suite A
New York Foundation for the Arts
A nonprofit providing critical support, professional development tools, and resources for defining and achieving career success.
20 Jay Street #740
Triangle Arts Association
TAA provides life‑changing working environment for artists through studio based opportunities to create new work.
20 Jay Street
Platform Project Space
Established by Elizabeth Hazan, Platform showcases and supports the work of fellow artists.
20 Jay Street #319
Smack Mellon
Founded in Dumbo in 1995, with a mission to support emerging, under-recognized mid-career and women artists.
92 Plymouth Street
Gallery Gaia
An intimate space in an intimate place, showing monthly exhibitions of contemporary art.
79 Hudson Ave
Elma
A non-profit artist-run space focusing on global-local artistic perspectives and critical approaches
216 Plymouth St
Artadia
A non-profit grantmaker and nationwide community of visual artists, curators, and patrons.
45 Main Street #515
Loop of the Loom
Japanese Zen weaving dojo
197 Plymouth Street
