As spring settles over Brooklyn, Dumbo’s industrial charm transforms into an open-air gallery once again. The Dumbo Projection Project, now in its seventh iteration, returns from May 1 through May 31, casting vivid video art across the iconic Manhattan Bridge and the elevated BQE wall at Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park. This month-long exhibition, presented by local arts collective Team Dumbo, invites residents and visitors alike to experience the waterfront after dark, from Wednesdays to Sundays between dusk and 11 p.m.
Since its inception three years ago, the Projection Project has redefined how New Yorkers engage with public art. By utilizing the massive surfaces beneath and around the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway—an area often overlooked and underutilized—the installation brings a vibrant new energy to Dumbo’s industrial landscape. The event is free and family-friendly, encouraging a diverse audience to explore the neighborhood’s evolving cultural scene beyond traditional gallery walls.
This year’s volume features a curated selection of video works by local and international artists, each piece responding to Dumbo’s unique urban environment. The projections not only illuminate the concrete and steel infrastructure but also create an immersive dialogue between art, architecture, and community. As the sun sets and the city’s skyline takes shape, the interplay of light and shadow reshapes familiar spaces into something almost otherworldly.
The project’s timing aligns with Dumbo’s broader cultural renaissance, where old warehouses have given way to tech startups, artisanal shops, and creative studios. The Projection Project enhances this blend of innovation and heritage, offering a nighttime cultural destination that complements the neighborhood’s daytime vibrancy. For New Yorkers seeking an engaging and visually striking experience this May, the Dumbo Projection Project promises an unforgettable journey beneath the bridge.