“Dear New York” at Grand Central Terminal
October 6–19, 2025
Grand Central Terminal, NYC
@humansofny
I’m deeply honored to be part of Dear New York, a first-of-its-kind public art installation created by my longtime friend Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York.
Brandon has been photographing me since the very beginning of his journey — our friendship now spans more than fifteen years. I still remember the day he stopped me in Washington Square Park to take that first portrait. That image went on to be featured in the original Humans of New York book, and later, a glimpse of my sand painting process appeared in Episode 1 of the Humans of New York Facebook series.
Now, for this extraordinary installation, projections of my work are being shown inside Grand Central Terminal, featuring a collection of my sand painting projects created across New York City over the years — each one a moment of color, connection, and impermanence brought to life in motion and light.
✨ Closing Event: Sunday, October 19, 6–8 PM
Join us for the closing celebration of Dear New York inside Grand Central Terminal. The evening will feature large-scale projections of my sand paintings and the thousands of Humans of New York portraits and stories that have illuminated this space over the past two weeks. It’s a beautiful way to experience the city’s creative pulse together, one last time before the installation closes.
For the first time in living memory, Grand Central Terminal and its subway station have been completely cleared of advertising and transformed into an immersive public artwork celebrating the faces, stories, and art of New York.
Visitors can experience:
50-foot projections lighting up the Main Concourse (including selections of my sand work)
150+ digital screens unified to display thousands of HONY portraits and stories
The most extensive subway installation in NYC history
A community art exhibit in Vanderbilt Hall featuring emerging NYC artists and over 300 submissions from NYC public school students
To see my work projected within one of New York’s most iconic spaces — and to have it included alongside so many remarkable stories — is profoundly moving. My heartfelt thanks to Brandon, his team, and everyone who continues to make this city a living, breathing masterpiece.
Being part of Dear New York has reminded me how art connects stories across time — from the city’s streets to its grandest halls. For those who’ve followed my sand paintings and installations over the years, I’m excited to share that my own books are now available for pre-sale, including Joe Mangrum: Installations & Sand Paintings — a visual journey through three decades of ephemeral works and large-scale public art.
Each page captures the fleeting beauty of color poured by hand and the spirit of connection that continues to shape my work.
🌀 Learn more or reserve your copy → joemangrum.com/product/pre-order-installations-sand-box-set/
📍 Grand Central Terminal, 89 East 42nd Street, NYC
🧡 #DearNewYork #HumansOfNewYork #GrandCentralTerminal #PublicArt #SandArt #JoeMangrum
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