“Subway Therapy Exhibit Showcases New Yorkers’ Post-Election Reflections”
**”Subway Therapy”: Art, Expression, and Healing in New York’s Underground**
In 2015, New York City artist Matthew Chavez was recovering from a motorbike accident that left him hospitalized for three weeks and unable to walk for several months. During this difficult time, Chavez reflected on the support he had received from friends and family and wanted to translate this gratitude into something meaningful for others. This personal introspection became the foundation of an art project that would change the way New Yorkers interact with public spaces: *Subway Therapy*.
### The Birth of *Subway Therapy*
Chavez launched *Subway Therapy* on Christmas Day in 2015 with a mission rooted in both art and human connection. He offered New Yorkers something simple yet profound: an opportunity to share their secrets with a stranger. As Chavez explained in an interview with *Hyperallergic*, by sharing their burdens with him, participants could experience a lighter emotional load, and he would help “carry the weight” of their secrets.
This early version of *Subway Therapy* involved one-on-one interactions, where Chavez invited passersby to sit with him at makeshift confessionals set up in New York’s subway stations. Chavez, though not a licensed therapist, wanted to provide a space for people to express themselves — a form of anonymous relief in the city’s chaotic underground. His “office” was complete with simple but evocative wall art and chairs where participants could engage in therapeutic interactions.
### The Evolution of *Subway Therapy*
The project took on a life of its own after the 2016 presidential election, particularly after Donald Trump’s victory. In response to the polarized political climate, Chavez introduced sticky notes into his performances, asking participants to write down their thoughts and post them on subway walls. This transformed *Subway Therapy* from a one-on-one interaction into a large-scale communal expression. Suddenly, New Yorkers from all walks of life were united by the act of putting pen to paper and sharing their emotions on colorful Post-it notes plastered across subway station walls.
Chavez set up shop in key locations like Union Square, asking people, “What’s on your mind?” The answers were raw, honest, and deeply telling. The notes that filled subway station walls were a testament to the mixed emotions swirling in the wake of the election. From frustration and fear to calls for unity and love, messages like “Trump is inhumane” or “Love to my Muslim brothers and sisters” dominated the sticky note landscape. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo even left his own poster at *Subway Therapy*: “New York State holds the torch high! – Andrew C.”
At its peak, *Subway Therapy* became an organic art movement that went beyond the confines of individual expression. Thousands of Post-it notes were posted on subway walls, creating a visual metaphor for New York’s collective consciousness at that moment in history.
### *Subway Therapy* Post-2016
Fast forward to more recent times, and the subway walls tell a different story. Although *Subway Therapy* continues to pop up in subway stations like Union Square and Columbus Circle, the latest iteration features messages that reflect current social and political climates in ways vastly different from those in 2016. With a new approach, Chavez set up his installations between November 5 and 10 in 2022, asking commuters to voice their thoughts with a fresh prompt: “What’s on your mind?”
This year’s notes are less reactive to major election cycles, and while political messages are still present — such as “Free all innocent Black men and women” or “Love and Protect Trans People” — the notes are also more personal. Participants have shared thoughts that oscillate between mundane and poignant, like “Just had an amazing date,” “I miss my family and boyfriend,” and “Gracias, New York, por permitirme conocer al chico de mis sueños” (“Thanks, New York, for letting me meet the boy of my dreams”).
The content of these recent sticky notes indicates that while direct political engagement played a central role in 2016, today New Yorkers may be turning more inward, reflecting on personal experiences, daily life, and intimate emotions. Nevertheless, one thing remains constant: the need for communal expression.
### The Healing Power of Communal Expression
Much of *Subway Therapy*’s success is tied directly to its ability to create shared spaces where strangers can express themselves without judgment. In a city that often encourages isolation — even in crowds — this form of public art challenges norms by fostering moments of connection through simple, unfiltered honesty.
Chavez has since expanded his public art initiative. He created a nonprofit organization, *Listening Lab*, which hosts events, workshops, and pop-up spaces dedicated to community building through active, empathetic listening. Under *Listening Lab*, Chavez continues to manage *Subway Therapy* while adding new layers of engagement to the project. Volunteers trained in listening techniques now assist in