Portfolio > MTA Arts & Design | 7th Ave Station (F/G Trains)

7 Av ​(F/G Line)​ station features mosaic artwork by David Rios Ferreira, titled "Landscapes adrift—cosmically woven and earthly bonded", commissioned by MTA Arts and Design. Installed within twelve niches and the North Mezzanine Passageway, the artwork incorporates elements of science fiction, the natural world, architecture, and history. Inspired by the station's proximity to Prospect Park, Ferreira drew inspiration from the snapping turtles and red-eared sliders that inhabit the park. These turtles hold significance in creation stories shared by Indigenous peoples, such as the Lenape and those of the Northeastern Woodlands, as well as in Hindu and Chinese mythologies, where the earth is believed to be carried on the back of a giant turtle. Building upon this narrative and drawing from his own Taíno heritage (the Indigenous people of the Caribbean), Ferreira's artwork seeks to bridge present-day concepts of home with a shared cultural connection to the planet across time.

Fabricated by Miotto Mosaic Art Studios, the artwork totals approximately 700 square feet and features amalgamations of abstract and representational images of turtles, drawing from a variety of interpretations found in scientific journals and Indigenous cultures. These images intertwine with re-contextualized depictions of neighborhood maps, buildings, landmarks, and plants. The vibrant backgrounds of the mosaics utilize iridescent glass, creating a captivating shimmering effect reminiscent of swirling algae in lakes while also evoking a sense of the otherworldly and cosmic.