Marco Gallotta’s "Urban Nature" honors the communities, architectural landmarks, and natural landscapes that define the Corona neighborhood in Queens. The area surrounding 111 St   station is known for its cultural diversity and the vibrant businesses that line Roosevelt Avenue. Less than half a mile away, Flushing Meadows Corona Park — site of the 1939-40 and 1964-65 World’s Fairs —continues to serve as a space for recreation and reflection for residents and visitors alike.

Fabricated by UAP, the artwork translates Gallotta’s intricate paper-cut style into six full-height, painted aluminum panels. The imagery celebrates the interplay between natural and urban elements that surround the station.

Set within the elevated station’s platform windscreen, artwork on the Manhattan-bound platform includes iconic imagery from the 1964-65 World’s Fair including the Unisphere, the sculpture Rocket Thrower from the Hall of Astronauts, and the twin circular platforms of the New York State Pavilion. The Queens-bound platform, the composition includes the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Theatre. Each of these landmarks is framed by a detailed lattice of flora and fauna, referencing the natural environment of nearly Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The interplay between the organic shapes architectural forms highlights the ways in which nature has continued to flourish within the urban ecosystem, in much the same way that city residents from all over the world have learned to build lives and find joy in their communities. As sunlight shifts throughout the day, the panels offer changing visual perspectives for riders moving through the station.

Marco Gallotta is an Italian-born artist based in New York. He finds inspiration in the city’s urban landscape, distinct artistic facets, and diverse population, using the intricate craft of paper-cutting techniques, drawing, painting, and printmaking in his work. Watercolors, inks, and graphite are applied to photographs that are then cut out, with paper and other materials strategically overlapped to create varied compositions. Gallotta has worked with heritage brands such as Chanel, Ferrari, Nike, Vogue, and Campari, along with notable individuals like President Barack Obama and Will Smith. In 2021, he created an official stamp for the Italian Postal Service celebrating the 100th anniversary of an important factory in his home city of Battipaglia. Gallotta received his associate’s degree in fashion illustration and a bachelor’s degree in general illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology.