A Fulton Mall stretch is glowing again, thanks to a new light art installation that transforms the former Macy’s building into a rhythmic reflection of Downtown Brooklyn’s everyday pulse.
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP), the City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and MASARY Studios unveiled “In Every Transition, A Pattern” on Jan. 30, activating the block-long windows at 422 Fulton Street, with a constantly shifting display of color and light driven by the sounds of the surrounding neighborhoods.
The installation translates audio recordings from Fulton Mall, including snippets of conversation, traffic noise, subway rambles, pigeons and crosswalk signals — into evolving light patterns that spill across the storefront windows onto the sidewalk. The effect is meant to be immersive and playful, inviting passersby to pause and take in the space between the street and the long-shuttered store interior.
“In Every Transition, A Pattern illuminates and celebrates the windows of a Downtown Brooklyn landmark on Fulton Street while reflecting the spirit of our community through light,” said Regina Myer, president of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.
“This temporary installation underscores our commitment to supporting local retail and revitalizing the public realm. We invite the community to experience the lights and then check out one of our great nearby businesses. We thank our partners at SBS for funding these efforts to enliven Brooklyn’s most famous shopping district.”
The project is funded through SBS’s Public Realm Grant program, which supports community organizations in activating commercial corridors after dark. The initiative aims to increase foot traffic, improve nighttime safety, celebrate local culture and reimagine underused spaces throughout the city.
“Vibrant light installations like ‘In Every Transition, A Pattern’ help increase both foot traffic and safety in commercial districts at night, and the Department of Small Business Services is proud to support projects like this that help to build communities,” said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “This light installation celebrates Downtown Brooklyn’s entrepreneurial energy while creating a safe, fun and interactive space for New Yorkers, their families and neighbors to enjoy throughout the winter months.”
MASARY Studios designed the installation by building a structure inside the storefrontthat responds in real time to the curated soundscape, creating what the artists describe as a visual expression of urban rhythm.
“This piece lives at the edge of the hustle, where the street meets the store. We are thrilled to create something dynamic, rhythmic and meaningful — and new — for Brooklyn,” said Ryan Edwards of MASARY Studios.
Local business leaders say the project highlights how temporary art can play a role in sustaining energy along a retail corridor during periods of transition.
“As the jewel in the crown of Fulton Mall undergoes another transition, this art piece represents an innovative approach to making the most of temporarily vacant space,” said Albert Laboz, chair of the Fulton Mall Improvement Association and principal at United American Land. “In addition to complementing the public realm, this installation will provide light for pedestrians and add vibrancy to Brooklyn’s iconic retail corridor.”
The installation is one of several temporary artworks DBP has brought to the neighborhood in recent years to animate streetscapes and introduce new artists to Downtown Brooklyn. MASARY Studios was selected following an open call that drew more than 50 artists, designers and lighting professionals, a process organized by DBP and SBS with McGregor Consulting.
The “In Every Transition, A Pattern” installation will run through March 16 at 422 Fulton St. in Downtown Brooklyn
