NYC Wall Art: 7 New York Canvas Ideas for Every Room

The best NYC wall art is the kind that makes your room feel like it has a view. For a living room, go big and horizontal: a wide New York skyline canvas around 60x40 above the sofa. For an office or bedroom, a black and white piece like the Empire State Building from above keeps it calm and modern. And if New York to you means its people more than its buildings, a Brooklyn or Ol' Blue Eyes portrait says it better than any skyline.

Here are 7 New York canvas ideas from The BLK Gallery, which room each one suits, and how to pick the right size. The skyline pieces were all shot by our artist, Frank Amoruso, on a private helicopter tour over Manhattan.

In this article

• What are the best NYC wall art ideas?
• Which NYC canvas suits which room?
• Black and white or color NYC wall art?
• What size NYC wall art should I buy?
• Frequently asked questions

What are the best NYC wall art ideas?

1. Manhattan: the whole city in one frame

The southern tip of Manhattan from above, rivers on both sides and the island running to the horizon, in full color under a big sky. This is the statement piece for a living room wall, and the closest thing to a window onto the city.

Manhattan

The full island from the air. Landscape sizes from 16x12 to 60x40.

From $89 See the piece →

2. Freedom Tower: lower Manhattan at its tallest

One World Trade Center rising out of lower Manhattan, its glass catching the blue sky, with the Hudson River and New Jersey stretching out behind it. Bright and optimistic, it works well in a home office or an entryway you see every morning.

3. Empire State: the classic, straight down

The Empire State Building shot straight down from the helicopter, its spire pointing up at you, surrounded by the Midtown grid. High contrast black and white makes it the most graphic piece in the collection and a strong fit for a modern office or study.

4. Black and white bridges: calm for a bedroom

Lower Manhattan in black and white, with two East River bridges crossing in front, the skyline stacked behind them and the Statue of Liberty out in the harbor. Quiet enough for a bedroom, detailed enough to keep looking at.

Black & White Bridges

The East River, the skyline and Lady Liberty, in black and white.

From $89 See the piece →

5. Blue and white bridges: a summer afternoon

The same bridges view in full color: blue sky, blue water and a hazy skyline, with green trees on the shoreline. It pairs naturally with the black and white version if you want a matching set.

6. Frank Sinatra: a New York icon

Not every piece of New York art has to be a skyline. This canvas brings back the singer's 1938 booking photo with period headlines and his fingerprints. It belongs in a home bar, a den or anywhere that plays his records.

7. The Notorious B.I.G.: Brooklyn, loud

Brooklyn's own, in vibrant color with headlines layered through the background. If your idea of New York is the music that came out of it, this is the piece for a living room, a studio or a game room.

The Notorious B.I.G.

Brooklyn's legend in bold pop art color.

From $89 See the piece →

Which NYC canvas suits which room?

Black and white or color NYC wall art?

Choose black and white if your room already has strong colors, patterned furniture or lots of wood, because it adds drama without competing. Choose color if your walls and furniture are neutral, since a blue sky and river become the room's accent. A black and white piece next to its color twin, like the two bridges views, also makes an easy matching pair.

What size NYC wall art should I buy?

Skylines are wide, so let them be wide. Above a sofa, pick a canvas about two thirds the sofa's width: for most sofas that means 40x30 or 60x40. Above a desk or in a hallway, 24x18 keeps the detail without crowding the wall. Our canvas size guide covers every size in inches and cm, plus standard versus gallery depth.

Every canvas is printed with archival inks on 100% cotton canvas, stretched over solid wood bars and ready to hang. Canvas prints arrive within 14 days.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real photos of New York?

Yes. The skyline, Empire State, Freedom Tower and bridges pieces come from photos our artist took himself on a private helicopter tour over Manhattan.

What is the best NYC wall art for a living room?

A wide, full color skyline such as Manhattan in 40x30 or 60x40, hung 8 to 10 inches above the sofa. It reads from across the room and gives the space a view.

Is black and white NYC art good for a small room?

Yes. Black and white keeps a small bedroom or office calm, and a single 24x18 or 40x30 piece adds depth without making the room feel busy.

Where can I buy NYC wall art made in New York?

The BLK Gallery is a New York studio. Every piece in our NYC wall art collection is designed by New York artist Frank Amoruso, with free US shipping on orders of $150 or more.