LOVE 2026

Our second year of creating and sharing LOVE across New York City

The NYC DOT, in their February 2026 newsletter, caught up with Alexa Gonzalez, Founding Principal of Hive Public Space, to discuss the inspiration behind LOVE, the magic of last year’s pop-ups, and why public spaces are the perfect places to share something as universal as love.

Q: What’s the origin of the LOVE activation, and how did it come to be?

A: In a world where so many of us are moving fast and carrying a lot, LOVE was created as a gentle invitation to slow down, make something by hand, and connect. We wanted to offer a warm, welcoming experience in public space rooted in care, creativity, and togetherness. Now in its second year, LOVE will travel to five public spaces across New York City during Valentine’s Day weekend. Through drawing, collage, and voice notes, participants can contribute to a collective LOVE installation or create something meaningful to gift to a loved one or keep for themselves. Even small acts of making together can spark conversation, bring joy, and transform everyday plazas into places where strangers become neighbors and art becomes a bridge.

Q: What are some of your favorite reactions from last year’s pop-up events?A: Some of the most meaningful moments were the quiet ones. We saw people writing notes to themselves, children making gifts for their parents, tourists capturing memories of their trip, and neighbors who had never met before creating side by side. One moment that stayed with us was someone who arrived carrying the weight of a rough day and left feeling noticeably lighter after just a few minutes of making. Those small acts of care and creativity can spark connection, invite conversation, and turn ordinary plazas into places where community is felt, celebrated, and remembered.

Q: Last year’s pop-ups engaged nearly 500 participants who decorated and shared wooden hearts across the city during one of the coldest months of the year. What do you attribute that success to?

A: People were drawn to the simplicity and warmth of the experience. The invitation was easy: come as you are, create something with your hands, and share a message of love. During the winter months especially, when connection can feel harder to find, people stayed longer, talked more, and left holding something meaningful they had made. Those moments reminded us that even small, playful acts of creativity can spark connection, breathe life into public spaces, and show that community can truly be built one heart at a time.

Q: How do you make an intentional effort to reach New Yorkers of all ages and abilities?

A: Accessibility and inclusivity are at the core of everything we do. Our activities are intuitive, multilingual, and flexible so people can participate in ways that feel comfortable to them. Whether someone wants to draw, write, record a message, or simply observe, there is space for everyone. Being in public plazas also allows us to meet people where they already are rather than asking them to come to us.

Q: What do you love about public spaces?

A: Public spaces belong to everyone. They are where everyday life unfolds and where unexpected connections happen. We love that public spaces can hold joy, reflection, celebration, and care all at once. When activated with creativity and intention, they become places where people feel seen, welcomed, and connected to one another.

Hive Public Space is a NYC DOT Public Realm Programming Partner. Learn more about the Programming Partner List at nyc.gov/DOTprogramming.