The Union Square Partnership unveiled a brand-new street mural installation along the pedestrian areas of the 14th Street Busway between Broadway and Union Square West. Titled Collective Vision, the artwork is designed by celebrated street artists GERALUZ and WERC, a Brooklyn-based couple. The mural is presented in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation’s Art Program, and was installed over a 5 day period last week with the help of community partners and volunteers. 
The design of Collective Vision is inspired by the power of nature and unity as strong extensions of humankind and the Earth. The street mural features the ruby-throated hummingbird to illustrate the power of resilience in standing together against injustice and extinction. Each of the flowers presented in the mural depicts an endangered native plant, from the striped coralroot and swamp sunflower to the sandplain gerardia. These illustrations remind viewers that we all need love and energy to stay alive and flourish, drawing a parallel to the need for solidarity and cooperation amongst humanity, a necessity in order to survive and live harmoniously.
The mural also pays homage to the history of movements fighting for social justice in Union Square, as well as the struggle for racial equality in America, while celebrating the role public spaces play to unite communities in collective activism and shared experience.
“Union Square has a proud history as a gathering place for all New Yorkers to come together in collective empowerment to make their voices heard,” said Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of the Union Square Partnership. “We are honored to have the work of artists Geraluz and WERC grace 14th Street in Union Square, promoting the significance of resilience, love and solidarity in this historic location, which has long celebrated community activism and fights against injustice.”
“We are proud to share the “Collective Vision” mural with the beautiful community of Union Square” share artists GERALUZ + WERC. “Painted in a love language of gratitude in the form of a bouquet of resilience. It’s an honor to create artwork in a place with so much history of unity and power of the people.”
Geraluz and WERC are Brooklyn-based artists who have worked on many featured murals across New York City. As a team, the couple is passionate about the beautification of public spaces, community empowerment, and art as a healing tool. They often work by taking an analytical and archeological approach to create site-specific pieces that are harmonious with the surrounding area.
DOT implemented the 14th Street Busway pilot project in October 2019 as an exciting new transit upgrade for 14th Street, and as a street design prototype for the city-at-large. The center of the busway crosses the heart of Union Square, where sidewalk extensions were installed to make additional space for walking. These new pedestrian areas are situated in a highly visible confluence of foot traffic and transit access. Collective Vision is the first artwork to activate the pedestrian areas, presenting a remarkable opportunity to support, enhance, and celebrate the new pedestrian-focused infrastructure while communicating an important message and beautifying the neighborhood.
“We’re overjoyed to continue pedestrianizing Union Square with the introduction of Collective Vision,” Falk continued. “While the creation of the 14th Street Busway was an incredible first step in rethinking public space prior to the pandemic, the installation of the street mural goes further to highlight the wide, open areas in Union Square created to provide New Yorkers with ample, safe space to walk and enjoy.”
In early 2021, USP announced the Union Square-14th Street District Vision Plan, aimed to increase public space by 33 percent and make the district more accessible and pedestrian-friendly. USP is a non-profit organization that operates as a public-private partnership, promoting the district’s key advantages and diverse array of assets, as well as advocating for its continued growth and success. For more on the Vision Plan, visit unionsquarenyc.org/vision.