Artist Jazmine Hayes Unveils Brownsville Public Art
The installation features at the new $128 million multi-service center in Brooklyn.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Fine Art
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In September 2026, New York City opened a $128 million multi-service center in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. The facility features a four-part public art commission titled I Am Protected by artist Jazmine Hayes.
Why it matters
The installation aims to provide visual affirmations of care and support to children entering the municipal facility. It reflects the local cultural history and serves as a welcoming presence for the community.
The public art commission consists of four distinct sections funded through the Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art program. This project follows the artist's 2025 public artwork installation at the nearby Brownsville Houses.
The players
Jazmine Hayes
Jazmine Hayes is a visual artist from East New York who specializes in public commissions that emphasize local community identity.
Department of Cultural Affairs
The Department of Cultural Affairs is a municipal agency that oversees the Percent for Art program to integrate art into city-funded projects.
The details
Jazmine Hayes designed the installation to be positioned at the building's entryways to greet visitors. Three city agencies collaborated on the construction of the facility to provide centralized services to the area.
Timeline
Jazmine Hayes completed a public artwork for Brownsville Houses in 2025.
The city unveiled the new multi-service center in September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The commission operates under the city's Percent for Art program, which mandates that a portion of capital construction budgets be allocated to public art. This reflects a broader trend of institutional efforts to humanize municipal infrastructure through creative partnerships.
Residents and children visiting the new Brownsville center can view the installation daily at the facility's main entryways. The art serves as a permanent, publicly accessible feature of the new municipal building.
The takeaway
Public art in municipal spaces is increasingly used to foster a sense of welcome and safety for local residents. These installations provide community members with cultural representation within essential government facilities.
Further reading
Discover more about local creative initiatives in the New York City Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hyperallergic.
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