Beyond Five Boroughs: How the Pulse of New York Found Its Rhythm in Miami

New York City may officially stop at five boroughs, but artist Cherie Corso has never been interested in official boundaries. Through an evolving, participatory body of work, she is redefining what makes a city—and how far its influence can travel.

Her project, The Pulse of New York, is not a static series or a traditional exhibition. It is an ever-growing record of movement, presence, and shared energy. With the creation of a new canvas in Miami, that pulse has expanded beyond city lines, crossing geography without losing its identity.

The concept began in New York with five large-scale canvases, each representing one borough. Instead of painting recognizable landmarks or skylines, Corso turned to something more elemental: human motion. Participants were invited to physically walk on the canvases, leaving behind footprints that captured the lived experience of the city itself. Each mark represents an individual story—ambition, perseverance, struggle, momentum—woven together through collective participation.

From the outset, public engagement was central. The response was immediate and enthusiastic, with people eager to step into the work and become part of it.

The idea of a sixth borough emerged during the NYC Real Estate Expo, under the direction of Anthony Kazazis, with the support of Felicia Seedorf, Director’s Liaison and Industry Connector. There, Corso revealed a freshly painted sixth canvas to an audience drawn from New York’s real estate, finance, and development communities.

The moment the concept truly crystallized came when Owning Manhattan star Ryan Serhant stepped forward, adding both his footprint and his signature to the canvas. In that instant, the work shifted—no longer just a visual statement, but a shared act. Serhant immediately understood the communal nature of the piece, reinforcing its purpose as public art shaped by participation.

From there, the canvas began its next journey.

During Miami Art Week and Art Basel—a time when global culture, movement, and creativity converge—the work arrived in a city long referred to as New York’s “sixth borough.” The connection felt organic. Miami, with its deep cultural and economic ties to New York, became a natural extension of the project.

CM Club hosted a special Miami Art Week event in Corso’s honor, where the canvas was unrolled directly onto the street. Live music by saxophonist Alex Sax set the tone as passersby paused, gathered, and ultimately stepped onto the artwork themselves. Each footprint was added in real time, translating sound, motion, and emotion into physical form.

The street became the studio.

The audience became collaborators.

And the work transformed into something far larger than an installation.

“I understand now why they call Miami the sixth borough,” Corso said. “I met so many New Yorkers and people from all over the world—who wanted to participate. They added their mark, their footprint, their energy. We created art together.”

What unfolded was intentional movement—foot traffic turning purposeful, strangers becoming contributors, and a city miles away embedding itself into New York’s evolving narrative.

As The Pulse of New York continues to expand, its central idea remains constant: cities are not defined by borders or buildings, but by the people who pass through them and the energy they leave behind.

All six completed canvases will ultimately be exhibited in New York, with early discussions already underway that include the Brooklyn Museum.