At Willets Point, DCLA, EDC, and QDG Unveil Massive 600-Foot Public Art Installation Highlighting Immigrant Stories by Artist Venazir Martinez

Queens, NY — During Immigrant Heritage Week, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and Queens Development Group (QDG) have officially unveiled “The Shaping of New York,” a massive, 630-foot-long public art installation by artist Venazir Martinez, now on view at Willets Point in Queens. Willets Point is a transformational development that, when complete, will deliver thousands of affordable housing units alongside new infrastructure, creating meaningful economic opportunities for residents and businesses. The vibrant artwork, made possible by DCLA’s City Canvas program, explores the untold stories of migration, and how they have shaped the city’s iconic landscape.  

"City Canvas opens a vital pathway for artists to show work in our public spaces and for New Yorkers to experience art in their everyday lives," said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij. "Venazir Martinez's 'The Shaping of New York' amplifies the myriad ways immigrant communities build our city through infrastructure and culture, shaping every aspect of our surroundings."

"The public art installation of 'The Shaping of New York' in Willets Point is a beautiful reminder of the countless contributions immigrants have made to New York City, and there is no better place to show this artwork than the world's borough of Queens," said NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. "We are proud to have supported Venazir Martinez, a Filipina muralist in the installation of this artwork, thankful to our agency partner DCLA for leading the City Canvas program, and our development partners QDG for helping to turn the former Valley of Ashes into a brand new neighborhood with thousands of affordable homes for New Yorkers.”

"We are proud to partner with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and artist Venazir Martinez to bring this vibrant, community-centered artwork to Willets Point," said Bruce A. Beal, Jr., President of Related Companies, and Gregory Katz, Partner at Sterling Equities, on behalf of QDG. “At its core, Willets Point was envisioned as a neighborhood where New Yorkers can live, work, and grow along with our city. As we prepare to welcome the first residents to Willets Point Commons, this artwork reminds us of the generations of hardworking individuals who form the fabric of one of the greatest cities in the world.”

“I aim to honor New York by illustrating how immigrants, laborers, and culture-makers built the city not just through physical labor but also through the energy, memory, and creative spirit they infuse into its streets,” said artist Venazir Martinez. “My work presents New York as a living tapestry shaped by both monumental histories and intimate, ordinary moments, and this project allowed me to become part of a significant moment of transformation in the city, using public art to bring visibility, meaning, and cultural presence to a major ongoing construction site."

“We are proud that this installation launched during Immigrant Heritage Week, serving as a powerful reminder that our diversity is not just our strength – it is our foundation. ‘The Shaping of New York’ brings these stories often hidden in the shadows into the public, honoring generations of immigrants whose labor, culture, and resilience continue to share our city in profound ways,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza N. Ali. “As Willets Point transforms into a hub of affordable housing and economic opportunity, it reflects the very promise that has drawn immigrant communities to this great city: the ability to belong, to contribute, and to thrive.”

"Queens was, is and always will be a borough of immigrants. As the son of an immigrant myself, I know first-hand the impact that the 1+ million foreign-born New Yorkers have had in propelling America's most diverse county forward, and I couldn't be more excited to see those contributions celebrated through this incredible piece of art at Willets Point," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "To artist Venazir Martinez and the immigrant New Yorkers who have helped a reimagined Willets Point rise from the ashes, we are deeply grateful for your efforts. I look forward to working alongside you and all our public private partners in furthering this transformative redevelopment project along in the years ahead."

This installation reflects something we see across Queens and throughout this city every day and that is that immigrant stories are not separate from New York’s identity, they are foundational to it,” said NYC Council Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams. “They show up in how our neighborhoods take shape, how communities build with one another, and how culture continues to evolve across generations. Public art like this creates space to recognize that in a way that feels visible and immediate. It brings forward stories that are often lived but not always documented, and it does so in a place that is itself changing and growing. That connection matters. And at a time when immigrant communities are facing increased scrutiny and uncertainty, that visibility carries even more weight. It acknowledges the reality of who is building, shaping, and sustaining this city every day, even when that is not always recognized or reflected.”

“Queens has always been a gateway for generations of immigrants, workers, and families who have shaped not just this borough, but the very identity of New York City,” said NYC Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry. “‘The Shaping of New York’ is a powerful reminder that our city’s story is built on the resilience, culture, and contributions of everyday people whose voices are too often overlooked. As Willets Point continues to transform, it’s critical that we honor that legacy while investing in a future that creates real opportunity for the communities who call this place home. I’m proud to see public art used in this way, not just to beautify a space, but to ground development in the history, culture, and spirit of the people it represents."

Visualized through vibrant blocks of bold brushstrokes and delineated structures, Martinez illustrates the resilience of immigrants who’ve built New York City, generation by generation. Migrant workers from diverse cultural backgrounds come alive, spanning from the early 1900s to present-day New Yorkers, connected by a poignant red thread. Perched precariously on the edges of under-construction buildings, these figures are captured in moments of contemplation and action, their faces etched with determination. Steel and cotton mill workers, construction laborers, and other unsung heroes are depicted in mid-stride, their movements a powerful tribute to the enduring spirit of progress. 

Venazir Martinez’s work is a part of the inaugural gallery of pre-approved artwork for the City Canvas program, launched in 2024. The new, pre-approved artwork simplifies the process for site owners to turn protective structures on their properties into platforms for public art, transforming the city’s streetscape with work from a dynamic, diverse group of visual artists.

For the construction project at Willets Point, Martinez added additional scenes to her original work to showcase the construction of the New York City subways and the Statue of Liberty, bringing to life new cultural movements with artists, musicians, cultural workers, and everyday people moving through the city. Viewers can also find a child flying a kite, a family enjoying a picnic, and street vendors within. These subtle moments of the mundane contribute to the magic of bustling New York life.

Anchored by 2,500 affordable housing units, Willets Point is the largest 100 percent affordable, new construction housing development in New York City in 40 years. The development will also deliver a new public school, more than 150,000 square feet of public open space, space for local businesses, a new hotel, ground-floor retail shops that will create good-paying jobs for community residents, and Etihad Park – the future home of New York City Football Club and the city's first professional soccer stadium. The project is expected to generate more than $6 billion in economic impact and over 14,000 jobs, representing a generational investment in Queens.

Development of the project is made possible by EDC in partnership with QDG, a joint venture between Related Companies and Sterling Equities, alongside the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the New York City Housing Development Corporation.

The City Canvas program, which DCLA manages in partnership with the NYC Department of Buildings, transforms the hundreds of miles of protective structures along New York City’s streets – sidewalk sheds, construction fences, and scaffolding – into opportunities for artists to create extraordinary artworks. Under the City Canvas program, there are now two avenues for property owners to install artwork on temporary protective structures, site-specific artwork, and pre-approved artwork.  

• Site-Specific Artwork may be commissioned by a property owner independently or with the assistance of a partner organization that manages the production of artwork which must be approved by the DCLA prior to display.
• Pre-Approved Artwork: Now, in addition to working with artists on original, site-specific commissions, building owners also have the option of selecting pre-approved artwork, which they are able to license for a fee negotiated directly with the artists.

Photos of “The Shaping of New York” are available here.

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 About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City’s vitality. The Department represents and serves nonprofit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City’s five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For more information visit www.nyc.gov/culture.

About Venazir Martinez

Venazir is a Filipina muralist and visual anthropreneur whose work explores migration, memory, and resilience, connecting communities through a red thread. Born in the Philippines, she reimagines Filipino identity in contemporary public art while honoring history and the evolving realities of diaspora.

In 2018, she founded Hilabana, meaning “woven path,” a public art movement that connects personal and collective stories across cultures. Her murals span across the Philippines and the United States, including works in California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and New York, creating spaces for reflection, belonging, and collective memory.

Her exhibitions, talks, and residencies at Duke University’s John Hope Franklin Center, The Andy Warhol Museum, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco and New York have deepened conversations around diaspora and local histories. In 2024, she received the TOYM Award in Arts and Culture from JCI Philippines, and in 2025, she was honored with the first Dream Big Award at the National Mural Awards and the Outstanding Alumni Award for Arts, Culture, and Social Change.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Related Companies 
Related Companies is a global real estate and lifestyle company defined by innovation and the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States. Formed over 50 years ago, Related is one of the largest private owners and preservationists of affordable housing in the U.S. and a fully integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisition, management, finance, marketing, and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas, Washington, D.C., and London and boasts a team of approximately 4,000 professionals. The company’s portfolio of over $70 billion in assets owned or under development includes the 28-acre Hudson Yards neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side, Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle and The 78 in Chicago. Related was named to Fast Company Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World. For more information about Related, please visit www.related.com. 

About Sterling Equities 
Sterling Equities is an investment firm with holdings in real estate, media and sports. Founded in 1973, Sterling is guided by the values of partnership and civic responsibility. Sterling's vertically integrated national real estate business encompasses direct ownership of a diverse portfolio including multifamily, industrial, self-storage, retail and office property, in addition to development, investment, lending, asset/property management, and construction management activities. Sterling’s media and sports investments include SportsNet New York, a regional sports network and its minority ownership position in the New York Mets Baseball Club. For additional information about Sterling Equities, please visit the company’s website at www.sterlingequities.com.