Photos By Gail

Caryn Cast is a NYC-based artist renowned for her murals, chalk portraits, and illustrations. Her work often features whimsical portraits and animals engaged in human activities, bringing a playful and imaginative touch to urban spaces.

One of her new and notable works is the Pigeon Lady mural, installed at the subway entrance at Houston Street and East 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. This large-scale painting on paper — with its bright pink background — was adhered to the wall adjacent to the subway entrance, adding a vibrant and engaging piece of art to the city’s landscape.

According to the artist, “Pigeon Lady, pictured with her best friend Jerry the pigeon was created from found photos, with a fur coat and cigarette added for some sassiness. I love painting portraits and birds, so any chance I can feature them both together, I do!” Cast explains that the mural is part of a new portrait series she’s creating entitled, Bird Ladies. I look forward to seeing more of them!

In addition to the Pigeon Lady, Cast has created various murals throughout the city, including a 238-foot 1920s-style scaffolding mural for the Lexington Hotel on Lexington Avenue and 38th Street. Her work has been featured in diverse locations, from street alleys to restaurant interiors, and even on television cooking shows.

For those interested in exploring more of her creations or purchasing prints, Caryn Cast has an online shop featuring a selection of her artworks for sale.  To stay updated on her latest projects and exhibitions, you can follow her on Instagram. Pigeon Lady will be on View until February 1, 2025, so  check her out while you can!