From NYC to Chicago: Nation’s First Public Housing Museum to Feature NYCHA Artist’s Work

The National Public Housing Museum will open early next year in Chicago, and will feature the artwork of a NYCHA artist on its membership card.

The New York City Housing Authority first opened its doors in 1935 with just over 100 apartments at the First Houses. As one of the earliest public housing developments in the nation, it served as a model for quality housing for low- and middle-income families.

Almost 90 years later, there are an estimated 1.2 million households that call public housing home across the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). NYCHA alone housed more than 528,000 residents as of October.

There are decades worth of impact, stories and transitions that will be preserved at the National Public Housing Museum located in Chicago. The institution, set to open in January, will also feature artwork from NYCHA’s own Derval Fairweather, who was raised in the Amsterdam Houses in Harlem, on its inaugural membership card. 

Selected from submissions to a NYCHA-wide art competition held in conjunction with the Public Housing Community Fund and NYCHA’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Fairweather was awarded a $500 cash prize along with a flight and hotel accommodations in Chicago to visit the new museum.

Fairweather’s colorful drawing shows five children reading together. Their cracked open books have covers that spell out, “I am what I am.”

“Derval Fairweather’s artwork captures the essence of what makes public housing so special: a spirit of togetherness and resilience,” said Alex Zablocki, executive director of the Public Housing Community Fund, in a statement. “We are honored to support this initiative and encourage all NYCHA residents to celebrate their stories by becoming museum members.”

Memberships offer incentives including priority access and member-only digital content, according to the museum. Although prices start at $70 to join, NYCHA residents can become members for free.

Fairweather’s artwork will be alongside other collaborations featured at the museum, including from notable names who’ve called NYCHA home. They include Jayah Arnette, who in 2021 curated a photo exhibition called “Community Matriarchs of NYCHA”; DJ Spinderella from the hip-hop music group Salt-N-Pepa; and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was raised in what was formerly known as Bronxdale Houses before the development was renamed after her in 2010.

Dr. Lisa Yun Lee, the executive director and chief curator of the National Public Housing Museum, said in a statement that NYCHA, as the oldest and largest public housing community, is central to their mission.

“This is your museum, and we invite all NYCHA residents to sign up for free memberships today and be part of this journey,” said Lee.

To reach the reporter behind this story, contact [email protected]. To reach the editor, contact [email protected]

Want to republish this story? Find City Limits’ reprint policy here.