This series of 22 brilliantly colored glass mosaic panels lines the walls of the station and bows to Lincoln Center's opera, ballet, and classical music halls, as well as the vibrant, artistic character of the Upper West Side. Spero's work uses iconic images of women, both real and mythical, from sources like archaeology, architecture, mythology and the contemporary world.  

The central icon of opera, the Diva, is repeated in various forms through the work. These lead and follow riders through the station, giving the illusion of movement and change. Elsewhere, Spero represents scenes from the subway and the city outside, the architectural backgrounds enlivened by musicians performing and athletes running, signaling you are in a creative and energetic place.

Artist and activist Nancy Spero (1926-2009) produced a radical body of work that confronted oppression and inequality while challenging the aesthetic traditions of contemporary art. A staunch feminist, Spero drew on archetypal representations of women across various cultures and times to reframe history from a perspective Spero described as “woman as protagonist.” Spero’s expressive work is characterized by her figurative interpretation of sociopolitical and cultural issues, often directly tackling racism, violence, and sexism. With a groundbreaking career that surpassed 50 years, Spero’s art has been featured in major exhibitions around the globe and it resides in important public and private collections.