Photos By Gail

There are some cars you park and forget, and then there are cars like this wildly painted Fiat 500 spotted in the Chelsea Gallery District that feel like they belong in a gallery all their own.

Covered in a riot of color, spray-paint swirls, drippy graffiti-style flourishes, and layered street art details, this little Fiat turns an ordinary curbside parking spot into an outdoor exhibition. The star of the design is impossible to miss: stretched across the hood is the soulful face of an owl, its giant golden eyes staring right back at you.

I’m almost certain this is none other than Flaco — the beloved Eurasian eagle-owl who became an unexpected New York City folk hero after escaping from his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo in February 2023. For a year, New Yorkers followed Flaco’s adventures as he made the city his kingdom, perching on fire escapes, hunting in parks, and basically living his best mysterious owl life. Sadly, in February 2024, exactly one year after his great escape, Flaco died after colliding with a building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. RIP to a true NYC legend.

The artwork on this Fiat appears to be by street artist Calicho, whose signature style mixes vivid color explosions with bold animal imagery and layered urban energy. I made the connection after remembering a Flaco the Owl memorial mural I’d photographed in Freeman Alley in March, 2024 (seen above) — also signed by Calicho — which features the same hypnotic owl gaze and unmistakable visual language. Once you see both pieces, the connection feels obvious.

There’s something especially fitting about using a Fiat as the canvas. The rounded shape of the little car almost invites transformation—it’s basically a rolling sketchbook. Artists seem to love the model for that reason, and I’ve featured other unforgettable Fiat art cars before, including works by Ron Arad and Mr. Brainwash. Somehow the Fiat presents itself as the perfect tiny museum on wheels.

This one feels particularly New York: loud, colorful, a little chaotic, and carrying the spirit of Flaco right through the streets long after his final flight.