Sun, Surf and Street Art: A Visit to Coney Art Walls in Coney Island, Brooklyn
Coney Island is a destination whose season bookends the New York City summer. While there are the requisite roller coaster rides and bumper cars, it’s so much more than an amusement park. It’s home to the New York Aquarium and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. There’s the beach and the boardwalk. Fireworks on Friday night. And let’s not forget legendary annual events like the Mermaid Parade and the Coney Island Film Festival. Countless memories are made here.
And it’s for this very reason that Joseph J. Sitt brought Coney Art Walls to life. The President & CEO of Thor Equities felt Coney Island had lost some of the shine he remembered from his youth, and he wanted to help bring it back.
What is Coney Art Walls?
Coney Art Walls is an outdoor street art museum in Coney Island’s Amusement District. But instead of painting murals on a building, the artists get to display their work on freestanding walls placed throughout the repurposed space. Curated with the assistance of art world giant Jeffrey Deitch, who is also behind the Bowery Wall Mural, Coney Art Walls features some of the biggest names from the street art world like Nychos, D*Face and Buff Monster.
New pieces have been added each season since its inauguration in 2015, and they mingle with ones from prior years. It allows the artists to play off each other, while creating an unofficial timeline. The unmistakable Coney Island Parachute Jump and other roller coaster rides provide a unique backdrop for the outdoor gallery.
A partnership with the Smorgasburg team adds to the fun atmosphere. Food vendors occupy shipping containers, and string lights cast a warm glow to the space once the sun goes down.
What is the best time to visit Coney Art Walls?
Coney Island is a seasonal destination that runs approximately from Easter to Halloween. Coney Art Walls, therefore, is strictly a summer destination. There’s always something going on in Coney Island, so the trek out to South Brooklyn is always worth your time.
If, like us, you love to visit destinations on the off-season, Coney Island is a fantastic candidate. The muted, docile version is completely unlike its boisterous twin, yet thoroughly enjoyable. Coney Art Walls will not be accessible, but there are several murals outside the fenced-in area that you can still enjoy up close. The others can be appreciated from a distance.
Where is Coney Art Walls located?
The mural museum is located between W 15th St and Stilwell Ave, across Bowery Street from Nathan’s Famous.
How do I get to Coney Island?
The best way to get to Coney Island is always using the subway. This is, in fact, one of those cases where your subway fare is a steal! Take the D, F, N or Q subway to Stillwell Avenue, which puts you right in the heart of the action. Just build in a little bit of time for the travel, it takes approximately 45-60 minutes to get there from Manhattan.
Any street art lover will not regret traveling out here to experience the amazing public art space, which has found a home in a classic New York summer destination.
