New NYC Subway Mural Inspired by the Mystical Art of Hilma af Klint
“Abstract Futures”: A Cosmic Journey through Tarot and Transit in NYC’s Grand Central Subway
In a vibrant tribute to New York City’s urban rhythms and universal themes of transformation, a dazzling new glass mosaic mural titled “Abstract Futures” was recently unveiled in Grand Central Station. Spanning 600 square feet, the artwork now adorns the 42nd Street entrance to the 7 train, creating an immersive visual experience for subway commuters through celestial motifs and surreal tarot-inspired imagery. Designed by Hilma’s Ghost, the feminist art collective founded by Brooklyn-based artists Sharmistha Ray and Dannielle Tegeder, the installation bridges ancient esoteric wisdom with the hum of modern-day metropolitan life.
Commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Arts and Design program under the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ longstanding Percent for Art initiative, “Abstract Futures” stands proudly among over 400 site-specific works that have animated the city’s transit environment for nearly four decades. The mural officially debuted in May 2025 and will be commemorated with a formal dedication ceremony scheduled for May 6.
Exploring Tarot Through Public Art
The work is organized into three intricately detailed panels, drawing inspiration from tarot’s archetypal journey of self-discovery, renewal, and spiritual exploration. By embedding layers of symbolism within a cosmic visual lexicon, the artists offer viewers an introspective path within the daily practice of commuting.
– The first panel begins with “The Fool,” a card that traditionally represents risk, new beginnings, and the unfettered pursuit of the unknown. Colored in fiery tones of red, orange, and pink, this section follows a protagonist embarking on a journey of self-exploration—symbolizing the onset of not only a physical journey but also a spiritual one.
– The second, more introspective segment echoes with earth-toned hues and centers around the “Wheel of Fortune”—a tarot icon emblematic of fate, change, and the cyclical nature of life. It reflects the challenges and spiritual upheavals that define the midpoint of transformation, resonating with the grind and unpredictability of daily life in the city.
– The final panel evolves into blues, purples, and a rising orange horizon, completing the arc with a sense of awakening and insight. A row of abstract wands, a tarot suit associated with creativity and willpower, closes the segment—suggesting the culmination of personal growth and the constant cycle of reinvention that defines New York City and its inhabitants.
A Collaboration Rooted in Mysticism and Modernity
Ray and Tegeder collaborated closely with Stephen Miotto, a master mosaic fabricator whose past work with the MTA has become synonymous with quality and vision in public transit art. The resulting mural extends Hilma’s Ghost’s long-standing practice of engaging with forgotten or suppressed forms of spiritual and artistic expression.
The collective, named in honor of Swedish Theosophist and abstract art pioneer Hilma af Klint, was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, Ray and Tegeder have created an array of projects—including abstract tarot decks, performances, exhibitions, and ritualistic installations—that investigate the intersection of spirituality, feminism, and contemporary art practices.
“Abstract Futures” shares its name with the duo’s original tarot deck, which sparked dialogue around reimagining divination as a feminist and inclusive visual narrative. The subway mural is a natural extension of this ethos, recontextualizing an ancient symbolic language into a forward-looking expression of resilience, belonging, and transformation.
Spiritual Transformation in a Secular Space
While the artwork draws directly from spiritual practices and tarot archetypes, it functions less as religious iconography and more as a meditative tool for a diverse audience. “Our intention is to create a contemplative space that centers inclusivity, connection, and healing,” the artists told Hyperallergic. By harnessing the transitory atmosphere of a transit station—where millions pass through in motion—“Abstract Futures” carves out a moment for reflection and imagination.
The initiative also highlights the power of public art to enrich daily life and root cultural engagement in plain sight. As transit riders come and go, they traverse a story not only of one character’s mystical journey but of their own role in the perpetual cycles of arrival, evolution, and rebirth that define the urban experience.
MTA’s Ongoing Commitment to Art
“Abstract Futures” exemplifies the MTA’s vision of enhancing the public space through art that speaks to diverse audiences. With backing from the Percent for Art program, this mosaic continues a long-standing tradition of commissioning meaningful works that restore and beautify the mundane elements of city infrastructure.
From murals and sculptures to mosaics like this one, the MTA’s Arts and Design program ensures that transit goes beyond functionality to provide commuters with surprise, beauty, and thoughtful engagement.
In bringing together tarot mysticism, modern abstraction, and the bustle of city life, Hilma’s Ghost offers