Art of the Street: Selections from the Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection

See works from the subway walls to the tenement halls in this showcase of works inspired by the streets of New York City.

This exhibition celebrates graffiti, street art, public art, and the moments when creative expression bursts out of the walls of traditional institutions into everyday life. Featuring highlights from a transformative promised gift to The New York Historical by prominent philanthropists and art collectors Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld, alongside recent additions to their private collection, Art of the Street showcases a stunning array of works inspired by the energy and visual language of the city. Works by Karel Appel, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Red Grooms, among others, tell the story of a movement that began as an act of defiance and grew into a powerful, global artistic force—one that continues to reshape how we experience art and public spaces.

To amplify this visual portrait of the city, the exhibition highlights the voices of a variety of New Yorkers in response to the scenes portrayed. Curated by Julia Brukx, Curatorial Assistant