New Yorkers have always had a penchant for discussing their transit experiences—whether through complaints, humor, or genuine affection.
This obsession is perfectly encapsulated in a new exhibit at the New York Transit Museum titled “Commentary on The Commute: A Century of The New Yorker’s Transportation Cartoons,” which showcases a century of comedic illustrations from the iconic magazine.
The exhibition, which is free to visit until October 26, 2025, can be found at Grand Central Terminal, a fitting location given the platform’s significance in New York City’s transit ecosystem.
Curator Jodi Shapiro undertook the delightful challenge of sifting through an extensive collection of cartoons to curate the exhibit.
Her careful selection reveals enduring themes in the city’s transit narrative, such as crowded trains, quirky fellow commuters, and an appreciation for the architectural magnificence of Grand Central itself.
Yet, she also highlights how the city’s transportation landscape has transformed over the decades, transitioning from trolleys to double-decker buses.
“This was a really cool way of showing that New York changes and stays the same at the same time,” Shapiro stated during a tour of the exhibit.
The exhibit features the work of 57 artists—each with their own unique touch—spanning the last 100 years.
Notably, even the very first issue of The New Yorker, published in February 1925, included a transit-themed cartoon, which is proudly displayed among the other artifacts in the exhibit.
Sections of the exhibition include areas such as Commuter Behavior, Service Changes, The Wait, Critters, Moving Millions, and Uniquely New York.
Each section captures the humor, absurdity, and moments of joy found both within The New Yorker and the broader transit experience.
In the Critters section, visitors will be entertained by a cartoon featuring two pigeons on a subway platform contemplating whether it would be quicker to fly to Brooklyn instead.
Further along, the exhibit introduces visitors to a variety of animated creatures such as monkeys, rats, a minotaur, an alligator, and even an alien.
Given the prominence of Grand Central in the lives of New Yorkers, an entire section is dedicated to this historic station.
A striking visual juxtaposition can be seen in a series of images: one from December 1978 showcasing a packed train station and another from March 2020 depicting an eerily empty terminal during the COVID-19 pandemic, where an essential worker is the only person in sight, mopping the floors.
The exhibition also spotlights renowned cartoonists from The New Yorker, such as Roz Chast and Peter Arno, who provided illustrations for the magazine from its inception until his passing in 1968.
However, Shapiro has ensured representation of lesser-known artists as well.
“There’s a type of humor for everybody. There’s a bunch of different styles of art,” she noted.
“There’s some things that don’t exist anymore—and some things that are very familiar and right outside the door of the museum gallery.”
For those waiting for a train or passing through Grand Central, taking the time to explore this exhibit is worthwhile.
Located in the shuttle passage next to the stationmaster’s office, the exhibition is open weekdays from 10 am to 7:30 pm and weekends from 10 am to 6 pm.
Shapiro sums up the exhibit beautifully, calling it “a love letter to both our transit and to The New Yorker, two institutions in our city that grew up together.”
Amid the fast-paced nature of life, Shapiro emphasizes the exhibit’s tranquil atmosphere, allowing visitors to slow down and appreciate a snapshot in transit history.
The display serves as both great art and a heartfelt tribute to the intimate relationship between New Yorkers and their transit system.
image source from：https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/this-free-exhibit-features-a-century-of-the-new-yorkers-transit-cartoons-041725
