Daniel Arsham and New York

“Sometimes I fantasise about living somewhere else, but to be honest, I’m not sure that I could live anywhere except New York,”says artist Daniel Arsham.

His studio is located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, connected to Manhattan via the Midtown Tunnel and Queensboro Bridge. Beyond the rows of brand-new luxury condominiums, you’ll find a historic industrial zone. Passing block after block of factories where big rigs fill the parking lots, you’ll eventually arrive at Daniel’s secluded studio alongside the East River.

Daniel likes to say that “even though this is a part of Queens, the skyscrapers are just across the river, so it feels like being in Manhattan.”

He grew up in Miami—or strictly speaking, “the Miami suburbs.” In his view, “the architecture there was pretty lackluster. All the houses were identical. Your typical American suburb. As soon as I could, I got myself out of there.”

At age 17, Daniel moved to New York City to study art at the renowned Cooper Union. This was in the late 1990s.
“I lived in the East Village, before the city transformed into one giant shopping mall. Back then, the neighborhood was gritty and unrefined. It wasn’t as safe, but that’s what made it edgy. That really spoke to me.”

Apart from a few years spent in his native Miami after graduating, Daniel has spent most of his adult life based out of New York. When asked “What’s your definition of a Livable City?” his answer was “a place that you can walk around.”
“In actuality, because I’m always traveling and usually spend my weekdays in the studio when I’m in here, it’s tough to find the time to walk around New York.”

Places you can walk around—as Daniel travels the world, these are the kinds of places that call out to him.

“The way I feel about a city has a lot to do with how that city is designed. New York is a place where even first-time visitors can quickly get their bearings. Paris is like this too. Then there are places like LA, where all the neighborhoods are spread apart and the traffic is non-stop. Some cities like Tokyo are big in scale, but have a lot of contrast between parts, some of which are very walkable and cozy. I could maybe see myself living in Japan for a year or so.”

While Daniel may fantasize about living in all kinds of different places, it would seem that “walkability” is not the only reason he could only ever live in New York City. As an artist, there are personal and professional reasons that make living in this city meaningful.
After a few years in Miami, I came back to New York. The economy was bad, so I had to live inside my studio, without any of the freedom I have now. That said, I think it was really important for me to push through those hard times. New York has a way of getting the most out of people and encouraging them to try as hard as possible. I’m surrounded by friends who run their own businesses or freelance in some capacity.”

Working his way up from a starving artist to a sought-after industry veteran, Daniel now lives in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, a 15 minute drive from his studio.
“I lived here for a little while as a student. In those days, it was a completely different place. It felt almost like a college campus, which didn’t really appeal to me. So when my wife said that she wanted us to live in Brooklyn, I was hesitant. But now that we’re here, I realise how much the neighborhood has changed. It’s much more comfortable now. Lots of apartments, plenty of greenspace, great dinner options within walking distance.”

When Daniel was younger, he preferred the rougher, edgier side of New York. But now that he’s older, he feels an affinity for the parts of the city “with less friction.” Having two young sons is likely a contributing factor.

In summer and on weekends, he and his family spend time on Long Island in their vacation home, which was designed by the late Norman Jaffe, whose work is said to have been greatly influenced by Japanese culture. They wound up purchasing this specific house because Jaffe is one of Daniel’s favorite architects, but the fact that it brings them close to nature and the ocean was another major draw.
“I want my sons to grow up in the city, but I also want for them to experience the ocean, the way I did when I was their age.”

Daniel added that on most days, his sons wear UNIQLO.
“They like the KAWS series from my friend Brian and the Star Wars series from NIGO. I wear a lot of the basic items myself. UNIQLO is great for all those standard wardrobe basics.”