Grand Central Terminal has been transformed into a massive art gallery featuring the work of Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind the internationally acclaimed "Humans of New York" project. The exhibition, titled "Dear New York," debuted earlier this month and represents the first time in recent memory that the iconic transportation hub has operated completely without advertisements.
Stanton's exhibition features fifty-foot portraits projected throughout the Main Concourse, along with smaller photographs and accompanying quotes that line the underground passageways. Every space typically reserved for advertising and transit information has been filled with images from Stanton's extensive collection. The photographer funded the entire takeover using his own resources, spending all the money he earned from the Humans of New York project over the past 15 years.
"New York is humanity itself. Every type of person is here—every ethnicity, every culture, every religion, every viewpoint. And somehow, despite the honking, the yelling, the shoving, we find a way to make it work," Stanton explained in a recent interview. He describes the installation as "a living, breathing immersive art installation staged in the one place where the entire city comes together—Grand Central."
The Humans of New York project, which Stanton launched in 2010, has grown into one of the most comprehensive archives of urban life in America. Over the past 15 years, he has collected more than 10,000 images that tell the stories of everyday people across all five boroughs of New York City. The project has gained massive popularity through social media accounts and has been featured in several published books.
Stanton emphasizes that "Dear New York" serves as "a love letter to the people of this city, and about the people of this city." The installation aims to transform the public transportation space into a site where visitors can find commonalities and recognize shared humanity among the diverse population of New York.
To further emphasize its community focus, the exhibition includes a special display in Vanderbilt Hall featuring artwork created by 600 students from New York City Public Schools. This component highlights the project's commitment to showcasing the creativity and perspectives of the city's younger residents.
"Dear New York" is also the title of Stanton's newest book, which is available for purchase through Bookshop. The Grand Central Terminal installation will remain on display through October 19, giving both residents and visitors the opportunity to experience this unique transformation of one of the city's most bustling transportation centers into an unprecedented art space.
