Revolving Voices 2026: Megaphone Art Landmarks Queens
Revolving Voices by The Urban Conga and Tamra Cosby is a permanent public artwork at Astoria Houses in Queens, NYC, launched in October 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Revolving Voices is a permanent public artwork and gathering space at Astoria Houses in Queens, New York.
- Developed by studio The Urban Conga and local poet Tamra Cosby through a public housing artist residency.
- Features four large-scale, megaphone-inspired octagonal structures that can be manually rotated.
- Exterior perforated panels depict community life while interiors showcase etched poetry and memories.
Design studio The Urban Conga and local poet Tamra Cosby have unveiled a new permanent public art installation named Revolving Voices. Positioned by the waterfront and ferry dock at Astoria Houses, a public housing development in Queens, New York, the project functions as both an interactive sculptural landmark and an active community gathering space.
The installation was brought to life through community engagement workshops led by Cosby as part of From Roots to Arts: Celebrating NYCHA’s Cultural Heritage, an artist-in-residence initiative managed by the Public Housing Community Fund and NYCHA. Residents contributed their personal stories, memories, and concepts to shape both the physical architecture and the etched narratives embedded throughout the structure.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Drawing inspiration from the silhouette of a megaphone, Revolving Voices comprises four colossal octagonal units arranged along a curved performance area in descending sizes. Their perforated metal facades portray residents, activities, and everyday scenes from the Astoria Houses neighborhood, whereas the internal surfaces feature engraved messages and poetry crafted by Cosby and fellow community members.
- Every individual component can be manually rotated to alter the orientation and framing views.
- The units can pivot outward toward the waterfront or inward toward the residential buildings.
- The flexible layout transforms the structures into functional portals, seating arrangements, and gathering zones.
This dynamic rotation capability empowers residents to reconfigure the space for daily relaxation or organized community events, ranging from poetry readings and musical performances to casual conversations and artistic expressions.
Integrating participatory public art directly into public housing developments represents a powerful shift toward human-centric urban design. By involving residents directly in the creative process, projects like Revolving Voices help bridge architectural interventions with social equity, fostering a deep sense of community ownership and civic pride in historically marginalized urban neighborhoods.
"By centering the voices, memories, and continued participation of residents, the work creates a place that feels rooted in the community and invites people to gather, engage, and connect."
Ryan Swanson, Principal of Urban Conga
NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt noted that the Connected Communities program ensures that public art directly reflects the individuals residing in the developments. Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund, added that the installation captures the lived experiences of Astoria Houses residents in an engaging and interactive format.
Source: designboom
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