JACK KLEIN

Artist and software developer based in New York
I am tired of staring at digital ads on the subway Information, Email
Subway Heat Exploration
2024-PresentLast summer I made a TikTok video that went viral documenting the heat inside NYC subway stations. The flood of frustrated comments made me realize this issue is worth further exploring. To date, there’s been no sustained, long-term effort to collect microclimate data inside subway stations in New York, so I’m working to change that.

Since September, I’ve been developing a custom Arduino sensor that collects live temperature and humidity data. So far I’ve installed it at Union Square station and I’m currently refining the data collection process. My goal is to expand to 10-20 stations (or more) to create a clearer picture of the heat riders face in the summer months.
Charcoal Drawings
2025I draw a lot. Here is a recent set of charcoal drawings.
Broken Display
2024My debut solo exhibition, held in the 6th Ave/14th St L subway station. For weeks I walked past these two broken display screens, wires exposed and wrapped in plastic, and imagined they wouldn’t be fixed anytime soon. I put up four museum labels, one on each side of both displays, and for the next month I came back every few days to reinstall any labels that got taken down. Many people tagged me in photos on Instagram, including @subwaycreatures who has 3 million followers. I realized subway stations are a perfect place for public installations.
How Are You Feeling Today?
2024I taped a piece of paper on a wall near my apartment in Ridgewood, Queens with the prompt “How are you feeling today?” along with three colored markers and a pen. It stayed up from 10:25am on August 24 to 8:30am on August 26. The success of this installation prompted me to try similar experiments in other places, like on the Williamsburg bridge footpath. It feels good to engage the public like this. 
GroupHang
2024I created a Slack app that allows teams to easily coordinate team outtings. The app was featured on the “Social & Fun” category in the Slack App Directory. I used Typescript, Node.js, and MongoDB.
What If We Asked People For Directions?
2024My phone got ran over by a car in September leaving me phoneless for two weeks. Accustomed to opening Google Maps instantly when I leave my house on bike, I resorted to physical notes that I carried in my pocket. If I got lost I would ask someone on the street for help. I wrote friends’ numbers on the paper in case I had to give them a call with a stranger’s phone. I noticed that most of what I used Google Maps for was in reality super simple sets of directions, but I only recognized this fact once I had perspective on the matter without the technology at my disposal. Technology blocked me from awareness.

Jack Klein Artist and software developer. Based in New York. Curious. Creating art that engages the public. Currently exploring the microclimates inside subway stations. I wish train cars had libraries and chessboards instead of digital billboards.