Art

Grand Central’s Unicorn Commute: Jonathan Monaghan’s “The Gilded Passage”

“The Gilded Passage” turns Grand Central Madison into a neon myth with 3D unicorns and Beaux‑Arts nostalgia. Discover the must‑see video installation and commuter tips.

Por: Angela Leon Cervera May 20, 2025

From rush‑hour elbows to Metro‑North luggage wheels, Grand Central usually screams real‑world hustle. Enter Jonathan Monaghan’s “The Gilded Passage,” a 3D‑animated video fantasia that premiered this week across the colossal digital screens of Grand Central Madison.

Suddenly your 7:32 a.m. commute morphs into a glow‑lit parade of golden unicorns trotting past chandeliers and marble cornices. Welcome to the latest coup by MTA Arts & Design—and a reminder that public transit can still feel like time travel if you pixel it right.

“The Gilded Passage” at a Glance

Artist: Jonathan Monaghan, Queens‑born digital surrealist repped by bitforms gallery.
Medium: Seamless 3D animation stitched to 18K LED walls lining Madison passageways.
Run Time: 12‑minute loop, plays top of every hour from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Tech Partner: ANC Sports—same crew behind MSG’s mega‑tiles.
Vibe Check: Beaux‑Arts ornament meets Blade Runner dreamscape, with unicorns as commuter avatars.

How Monaghan Turned Marble into Myth

Question: Why unicorns?

“Grand Central already feels mythic,” Monaghan tells LUSTER. “Unicorns let me literalize that magic, riffing on heraldic beasts carved into old cornices while projecting commuters’ desire to transcend routine.”

Using photogrammetry scans of Vanderbilt Hall and archival blueprints, the artist built a digital twin of historic Grand Central—then spliced it with Grand Central Madison’s contemporary geometry.

The result: a shimmering corridor where gilded beasts weave through archways, clocks, and celestial ceilings, bending perspective so convincingly that onlookers half‑expect hooves to echo.

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Why It Matters for 2025 Commuters

Nostalgia Meets NFT Aesthetics

Monaghan’s mash‑up layers 19th‑century Beaux‑Arts extravagance with video‑game polish—think Sagrada Família via Fortnite. It’s a love letter to craft in an era of tap‑to‑pay turnstiles.

Micro‑Escape for Macro‑Stress

New York’s subway psyche needs dopamine. Twelve minutes of luminous myth offers a mini‑vacation, whether you’re sprinting to Long Island Rail Road or killing time before a Metro‑North hop.

Public‑Art Flex

With Penn Station revamp looming and LaGuardia now sporting waterfalls, the MTA reminds us: art is an amenity, not an afterthought.

Best Viewing Spots & Insider Hacks

Central LED Ribbon – Stand beneath Track 306 signage; the unicorns appear to gallop overhead.
Madison Great Hall Benches – Sit facing north wall screen for full panorama; screens sync floor‑to‑ceiling.
45th Street Entrance Escalators – Ride up for a forced‑perspective moment when the beasts crest the mezzanine.
Off‑Peak Zen – Visit 11 a.m. or 3 p.m.; commuter volume dips and you can film uninterrupted reels.

What’s Next for “The Gilded Passage”

AR Filter Drop (Summer 2025): MTA Labs teasing an Instagram filter that overlays unicorns onto real concourse via your phone.
Limited‑Edition Prints: Bitforms gallery releasing 150 silk‑finish prints, hand‑signed, September 2025.
Sound‑Bath Nights: Rumored ambient performances syncing live violin with animation loop—stay tuned.

Jonathan Monaghan’s “The Gilded Passage” transforms Grand Central Madison’s sleek arteries into a numinous runway where gilded unicorns outpace LIRR schedules. It’s playful, sophisticated, and a bit cheeky—classic NYC alchemy.

Next time you dash for Track 105, pause under the LEDs, let nostalgia glitch with futurism, and remember: myth isn’t just carved in stone; it can pulse at 60 frames per second.

The Gilded Passage Grand Central

Is the installation permanent? Scheduled through January 2026, with potential extension.
Does it run during overnight service cuts? Loop pauses 1 a.m.–5 a.m. for screen maintenance.
Any cost to view? Free; just walk the concourse.
Can I photograph or film? Yes—tripods discouraged during rush hour.