‘Art Everywhere’: 50,000 billboards turn into works of art

Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington is among the nominees chosen by the National Gallery of Art. (Courtesy National Gallery of Art)
Roy Lichtenstein, American, 1923 to 1997, Look Mickey, 1961, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Roy and Dorothy Lichtenstein in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.41.1 (Courtesy National Gallery of Art)
Gilbert Stuart, American, 1755 - 1828, George Washington, c. 1821, oil on wood, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Thomas Jefferson Coolidge IV in memory of his great-grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, his grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Coolidge II, and his father, Thomas Jefferson Coolidge III, 1979.5.1. (Courtesy National Gallery of Art)
Art Everywhere Billboards Roy Lichtenstein's 1963 "Cold Shoulder" was nominated by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. (AP Images)
Art Everywhere Billboards Whitney Museum of American Art via Art Everywhere shows Jasper Johns' 1958 "Three Flags. (AP Images)
Art Everywhere Billboards Grant Wood's 1930 "American Gothic" is among the selected works from The Art Institute of Chicago. (AP Images)
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WASHINGTON — The country’s biggest art show will be seen on more than 50,000 billboards to D.C. and other cities this summer.

Art Everywhere will feature American masterpieces chosen by the public online.

People can vote on 100 artworks from the National Gallery of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, Art Institute of Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Dallas Museum of Art. Fifty of those will make the final cut and be displayed throughout the country.

The public has until May 7 to vote.

Featured artists include Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.

All of the pieces were created between 1767 and 2008.

The winning artworks will be displayed on billboards, subway platforms, buses and bus shelters throughout the country.

“The National Gallery of Art selected its 20 most iconic works of American art,” says spokeswoman Deborah Ziska.

“This is a true collaboration that reveals America’s artistic legacy and reminds everyone of the great art treasures awaiting them in museums across our great nation.”

The D.C. museum nominated John Singer Sargent’s “Nonchaloir (Repose),” Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of President George Washington, George Bellows’ “Both Members of This Club” and “Look Mickey” by Roy Lichtenstein among others.

See the complete list of nominees.

“American artists have long found inspiration in iconic locations such as Times Square, Sunset Boulevard and Route 66,” the National Gallery of Art says in a statement.

“Art Everywhere will transform these and other public spaces into free open-air galleries for American masterworks in the largest outdoor art show ever conceived.”

The displays will debut Aug. 4 and continue for four weeks.

Vote for your favorite works of art.

And watch the video below to learn more about the project:

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