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MetroCard Removal: Artists Fear Loss of NYC Culture

12/29/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Thomas McKean, a collagist, mourns the removal of MetroCards as the MTA shifts to the OMNY system, noting his art has incorporated the cards for over two decades.
Nina Boesch, an artist, has collected around 90,000 MetroCards and views them as recycled art and a symbol of New York.
Both artists fear the MetroCard removal signals the end of an era and a beloved piece of the city’s culture.

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Story summary

Thomas McKean, a collagist, mourns the removal of MetroCards as the MTA shifts to the OMNY system, noting his art has incorporated the cards for over two decades.
Nina Boesch, an artist, has collected around 90,000 MetroCards and views them as recycled art and a symbol of New York.
Both artists fear the MetroCard removal signals the end of an era and a beloved piece of the city’s culture.