Paul Anthony Smith’s series Melodies from a running spring has been installed across 300 bus shelters in New York City, Boston, and Chicago. The large grayscale photographs invite commuters to stop and reflect in the midst of everyday routines. Each work showcases Smith’s distinctive style, transforming familiar advertising spaces into moments of quiet observation. The exhibition runs through September 7, 2025, creating an unexpected encounter with art in urban landscapes.

The artist uses a process known as picotage, where hundreds of tiny punctures are made into the surface of each photograph to create shifting patterns of light and texture. Portraits include figures such as Olympic fencer Daryl Homer and artist Zachary Fabri, set against natural backdrops that evoke Caribbean heritage without relying on cliché. By presenting these images in black and white, Smith contrasts the commercial language of city streets with a contemplative vision rooted in culture and memory.

Image Credit: Nicholas Knight