Church Av (2/5)

Transitions

Louis Delsarte
Artwork in glass mosaic by Louis Delsarte showing colorful scenes of people interacting with each other and the Brooklyn neighborhood.
“Transitions” (2001) by Louis Delsarte at Church Av. Photo: Rob Wilson

About the project

The series of glass mosaics, created by artist Louis Delsarte, reflect the color, energy, and daily life in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn where the station is located. Home to many residents of Caribbean descent, the West Indian-American Day Parade is prominently featured alongside other neighborhood sights and scenes. "This neighborhood has had many different groups moving in and out over the years. Now it's predominately Caribbean, and I wanted to freeze a moment in its history," says the artist. In the section called "Avenue of Churches," Sunday morning rituals are observed, while in "The Neighborhood," children are shown happily jumping rope on the area's sidewalks. 

About the artist

Brooklyn native Louis Delsarte (1944-2020) was best known for his illusionistic style. Growing up surrounded by the music of New York City — including jazz, opera, musical theater, and the blues — Delsarte drew much inspiration from contemporary culture. Weaving together themes of arts and culture with African history, Delsarte often worked in large-scale murals, including numerous public commissions. His works frequently use of bold colors and figures in movement, depicting moments of joy, passion, sorrow, and rebirth in his compositions. After spending much of his life and career in Brooklyn, Delsarte later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was a professor of Fine Arts at Morehouse College.