There is Magic Underneath it All

2019 Fort Hamilton Pkwy (N) New York City Transit

"There is Magic Underneath it All" is an imaginative and whimsical artwork created by María Berrío for the Fort Hamilton Pkwy station in Brooklyn. As passengers embark on their subway commute, they are greeted by 14 glass and ceramic mosaic panels, viewed from both sides of the platform. Mosaika Art & Design translated Berrío’s series of collaged paintings, built from patterned papers, into richly textured and colorful mosaics. The surreal and fantastical compositions are layered with vibrant patterns, figures playing instruments and folkloric animals including cheetahs, swans, parrots, and butterflies.

The artwork panels are evocative of the drama and majesty of journeys taken by individual travelers who may have immigrated from another country, state, or borough. The artist strives to inspire and remind passengers that they are in the realm of possibility, beauty, and magic. Berrío encourages viewers to explore their exterior and inner worlds of creativity, mystery, and joy.