Calling All Artists Update!

Celebrate Landmarks60 NYC 1965-2025

Honor the Past, Imagine the Future

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the NYC Landmarks Law (1965-2025), and Murray Hill’s 14 Designated Landmarks and two Historic Districts, the Preservation & Design Committee of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, a proud member of the NYC LANDMARKS60 ALLIANCE, announces an ARTISTIC COMPETITION inviting participants to Honor the Past by drawing or painting a Designated Landmark Building of their choice from the list below. Participants are also invited to draw or paint any of the buildings in Murray Hill’s two Historic Districts, as they are also protected by the Landmarks Law. Applicants are also welcome to depict part of the Landmarked or Historic District building, or a distinctive detail.

The two Historic Districts are as follows:

• The Murray Hill Historic District, a four-block area from 35^th to 38^th Streets, between Park and Lexington Avenues, designated in 2002, is lined with beautiful pre-Civil War Italianate row houses in which some famous people made their homes.  You may enjoy drawing Jessica Tandy’s former home, or Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s. They are marked by plaques we call Cultural Medallions. See if you can find them!

• Sniffen Court Historic District, one of the earliest designated Historic Districts in New York City, and one of the most charming, is located on 36^th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues.  Now a cul-de-sac of former Civil War-era stables converted into townhouses, it is one of Manhattan’s few remaining mews.

Contest is open to anyone inspired by the unique and beautiful landmarked townhouses, mansions, mews and former stables in Murray Hill!  Works will be judged on originality, skill and overall appeal, and if the work enhances the appreciation of the Designated Landmark or Historic District building.

Contest ends midnight, September 30, 2025.

Gallery Show and Reception: The Romanian Cultural Institute, November 6, 2025.

1st Prize- $250 Gift Certificate at Blick Art Materials
2nd Prize- Dean Avery Commemorative Map Framed
3rd Prize – Commemorative Tote Bag & Minor Bishop Sketchbook 

Guidelines:

Please confirm your participation and selected building or buildings by informing us at preservation@murrayhillnyc.org

The following works will be considered:

• Drawings (pencil, pastel, crayon, ink or charcoal)
• Paintings (oil, acrylic or watercolor)
• Digital art
• Mixed media, collage

Maximum size of work: 36” x 36”

Minimum size of work: 4” x 4”

Email JPEG file to: preservation@murrayhillnyc.org

Maximum size of work: 36” x 36”  Minimum size of work: 4” x 4”

Include artist’s name, title of work, media, and size (start with horizontal)

The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association will make every effort to protect submissions, but is not legally liable for damage or loss.

Children (under 13 years of age) are also welcome and encouraged but their drawings and paintings will not be judged.

To further celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the NYC Landmarks Law, walking tours of Murray Hill’s 14 Designated Landmark Buildings and two Historic Districts will be held monthly starting in February 2025.  These tours will be an excellent opportunity for contestants to familiarize themselves with the area and its history and to consider possible buildings for drawing or painting.

The Preservation & Design Committee wishes to pay tribute to Dean Avery and Minor Bishop, Murray Hill residents and artists who created beautiful drawings and sketches of Murray Hill buildings during their lifetimes. We hope to rekindle their spirits with this competition.

List of Designated Landmarks and their addresses follows:

• PIERPONT MORGAN LIBRARY AND ANNEX (29-33 East 36th St.)       
• CHURCH of THE INCARNATION and RECTORY (Northeast corner Madison Avenue & East 35th St.)
• THOMAS and FANNY CLARKE HOUSE (22 East 35th St.)
• JAMES HAMPDEN ROBB and CORNELIA VAN RENSSELAER ROBB HOUSE (23 Park Avenue)
• JAMES F.D. And HARRIET LANIER HOUSE (123 East 35th St.)
• GEORGE S. BOWDOIN STABLE (149 East 38th St.)
• SET-BACK HOUSE (152 East 38th Street House)
• ALLERTON 39th Street HOUSE (145 East 39th St.)
• JONATHAN W. ALLEN STABLE (148 East 40th St.)
• ADELAIDE L.T. DOUGLAS RESIDENCE (57 Park Avenue)
• MIDDLETON S. and EMILIE NEILSON BURRILL HOUSE. (36 East 38th St.)
• JOSEPH RAPHAEL De LAMAR HOUSE (Northeast corner Madison Avenue & East 37th St.)
• PHELPS STOKES – J.P. MORGAN, Jr. HOUSE (Southeast corner Madison Avenue & East 37th St.)
• UNION LEAGUE CLUB (38 East 37th St.)