If you take the train at Union Square, you’ll come across striking red frames scattered throughout the subway station, impossible to miss. This is the Framing Union Square installation by artist Mary Miss.
Commissioned by MTA Arts and Design, this project was created by Mary Miss in collaboration with architect Lee Harris Pomeroy. The installation began during the station’s renovation in the 1990s and was completed in 2000.
Red Frames: A Window into the Past
The red frames highlight the station’s archaeology. Built in 1904, Union Square is one of the original 28 subway stations in New York City. These frames bring attention to various features, such as mosaics over 100 years old, original subway signs, and other architectural and decorative elements that might seem mundane at first glance but hold significant historical value.
Some frames are integrated into walls and railings, accompanied by descriptions that direct focus to the station’s inner workings, history, or structure. Others contain images depicting how the station appeared in its original form.
During the 1990s renovation, workers uncovered relics thought to be lost, including wall fragments with terracotta eagles dating back to 1904.
A New Way to See
According to Mary Miss: “As an artist, my interest is in getting people to see things they may not have noticed before. I tried to take elements of the surroundings and bring them into focus” (Framing Union Square Station, 2000).
In total, 125 red frames are scattered throughout the station. Next time you’re rushing to catch a train, take a moment to pause and explore a piece of history.