Outside the subway station at W. 72nd Street and Broadway, a flower has bloomed. It's a sculpture from artist Jon Isherwood. 

The United Kingdom native, who lives and works in upstate Hudson, has created eight marble sculptures for an exhibition called Broadway Blooms: Jon Isherwood on Broadway. They are located on the Broadway Malls, the unique public spaces in the center of arguably the world's most famous thoroughfare. 

"The moment I walked out of the subway and saw just all the flowers in bloom on the center median, I was just like 'wow, what an inspiration,'" said Isherwood. 

The exhibition, which was delayed more than a year because of the pandemic and shipping delays from Isherwood's studio in Italy, is presented by the Broadway Mall Association. The nonprofit cares for more than five miles of Broadway, from 70th to 168th streets, the Upper West Side to Washington Heights. That's more than 10-and-a-half acres of public space. 

"One of our main jobs as an organization is to care for the gardened and green spaces that run along Broadway and to have a public art exhibition that folks can interact with directly that really ties into the work we do from a horticultural standpoint I think is really special," said Emily Walker, executive director for the Broadway Mall Association.

Melissa McCallahan of New Jersey agrees. She was in town for a doctor's appointment, heard about the sculptures and decided to take a walk and check a bunch of them out. 

"I just was really intrigued by the idea of having this floral in sculpture work, so, I'm really impressed by the designs and everything," said McCallahan. 

Isherwood calls the malls a gift to New Yorkers, and says he hopes that he has created artwork that is seen as a gift to the city. 

"The hope is the work will engage people, they will see it for its gesture of joy and growth and rejuvenation," said Isherwood. 

He says he hopes his sculptures bring pleasure, and a moment of intrigue, as New Yorkers make their way along Broadway.