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 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.
ANCHORAGE | BABEL IN REVERSE
By Joseph Morris+ Owen Trueblood, in partnership with the Endangered Language Alliance
On view through August 2023; listening hours are 8am-11am, Monday-Friday.
Dumbo Archway
This site-specific sound installation features the voices of hundreds of speakers of endangered languages spoken throughout the city of New York.
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: 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.
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.
FAT BOY
By Leonard Ursachi
On View through October 2023
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: 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: 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: 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.
UMBRELLAS + MURAL
By Liz Collins
Umbrellas Created in partnership with Sunbrella
Pearl Street Triangle
We commissioned Dumbo-based textile artist Liz Collins to create new shade umbrellas for our plazas. She partnered with Sunbrella to create custom fabrics, and painted a mural to match, the last mural to be painted on the Pearl Street Triangle before the final plaza is complete.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
Klompching Gallery
Specializing in contemporary fine art photographs since 2007.
89 Water Street
New York Studio School Projects
Committed to giving aspiring artists a significant education that can last a lifetime.
20 Jay Street, Suite 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.
Cuban Art Space
Higher Pictures Generation
First shows (historical and contemporary) by artists working primarily in photography, video, and performance.
16 Main Street
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, Suite 740
Triangle Arts Association
A visual arts residency in New York founded in 1982, providing a life-changing working environment for committed artists.
20 Jay Street, Suite 317 & 318
Platform Project Space
Established by Elizabeth Hazan, Platform showcases and supports the work of fellow artists.
20 Jay Street, #319
Undercurrent
Showcasing local and international contemporary artists with an inclusive subprogram of artists and creative entities of the Baltic states.
70 John Street
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 Suite 515
Loop of the Loom
Japanese Zen weaving dojo
197 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
Berl’s Poetry Shop
Longtime Dumbonians Jarred and Farrah have operated NYC's ONLY all-poetry shop here since 2013.
141 Front Street
USAGI
Japanese design shop x matcha bar x bookstore x art gallery makes Usagi one of Dumbo's most unique finds.
163 Plymouth Street
