New York City Invites Public Input on Billie Holiday Monument Proposals in Queens
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs has unveiled six finalist proposals for a public monument dedicated to jazz legend Billie Holiday, to be located outside the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens. The public is invited to review and comment on the designs until the end of May, with a final decision expected later in the year. The finalists, selected from an open call in late 2025, include artists La Vaughn Belle, Nikesha Breeze, Nekisha Durrett, Tanda Francis, Thomas J. Price, and Tavares Strachan. Each artist has presented a unique vision, ranging from minimalist silhouettes to more traditional representations of Holiday. The project is funded by the Percent for Art program, which allocates one percent of New York City's construction budget to public artworks. 
