A stunning 600-foot glass mosaic designed by the art collective Hilma’s Ghost —Professor of Art Dannielle Tegeder and Sharmistha Ray—is inviting 7 train commuters into a new dimension at the Third Ave and 42nd Street entrance to Grand Central Station. Evoking themes of portals and journeys, “Abstract Futures” is a permanent installation commissioned by MTA Arts & Design as part of the Present For Art Program.

“This mural represents a new way of seeing the city—a journey that is both physical and spiritual,” said Hilma’s Ghost in a statement. “It’s about the connection between people, spaces, and time, and intended to provide a powerful reflection of what New York represents to us all.”

 “Abstract Futures” depicts New York on a symbolic level through bright, intricate designs that are based on the collective’s tarot deck of the same name. Tarot archetypes like “The Fool” and “The Wheel of Fortune” trace a heroine’s journey across a mythical urban landscape.

The collective, along with MTA Arts & Design, revealed the mural in a ceremony on May 6. At the unveiling, the artists led a ceremonial cleansing of the mosaic, invited guests to whisper names of the impactful women in their lives, and drew a tarot card to symbolically bless the work. The mosaic was fabricated by Miotto Mosaic Art Studios and is the first public commission for Hilma’s Ghost.

Check out more photos of the mural

See more news coverage of “Abstract Futures” at these sites:

MTA
Colossal
My Modern Met
Hyperallergic
Artsy