A new free public art exhibition titled "In Plain Sight" opens June 4 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, transforming the 59-acre waterfront campus into an outdoor gallery. Curated by Debra Simon, the year-long installation features site-specific works by 12 Brooklyn-based artists, including Elana Herzog, Nathan Kensinger, and Hyesu Lee, whose pieces explore themes of labor, migration, ecology, and industry. The artworks—spanning sculptures, murals, photography, and large-scale installations—are placed across plazas, waterfront walkways, lobby columns, and decommissioned train cars, with many fabricated on-site using materials from local businesses.
This exhibition matters because it repurposes a historic industrial site—once a military supply hub and now home to over 100 businesses—into a free, accessible cultural destination that reflects the diversity of Sunset Park and Brooklyn. By embedding contemporary art into the working waterfront and engaging directly with the site's history and community, "In Plain Sight" demonstrates how public art can activate underutilized urban spaces, foster local identity, and make art available to all. The show remains on view through 2027, signaling a long-term commitment to public art in New York City.