Our Influential New Yorkers Series

In every decade, for more than 100 years, New York City has produced some of the most influential creatives and intellectuals on the planet.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Norman Rockwell painted images that came to represent American life to the rest of the world. Near the end of that same century, Andy Warhol would change the international art scene. James Baldwin wrote stories that told us what it felt like to be a black man in mid-century America and the Notorious B.I.G rapped lyrics that brought alive that same experience in the 1990’s. Way back in 1921, native New Yorker Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature for the novel “The Age of Innocence”. Seventy-two years later another native New Yorker, iconic movie director Martin Scorsese, transformed her novel into a blockbuster movie. 

This is the history of the city where you live. 

There is SO MUCH HISTORY. Maybe too much even. Because the sheer number of influential New Yorkers can actually bury their individual stories. But, if we let their individual impact be forgotten then we forget that a single person can change the course of history. We live in a time where it feels like everything’s been said, created, and explored already. Maybe now more than ever it’s important to remember that a single person can influence the world. We want to help you remember. 

Here is one of the ways we plan to do that. 

We’re going to tell you the stories of iconic New Yorkers - native and transplant. Because while Norman Rockwell was a native New Yorker, Andy Warhol actually wasn’t. What fueled them both? That legendary New York energy that is accessible to everyone. The energy we’re hoping to inspire you to tap into. 

Stay tuned for two of our ongoing themes in our social media love notes - “Iconic New Yorkers” and “Iconic New York Transplants”. Our way of both keeping New York City history alive and keeping you connected to the city we all love most in the world. 

Photo Credits: Norman Rockwell photo by Library of Congress; James Baldwin photo by Allen Warren; Notorious B.I.G. photo by Barron Claiborne; Andy Warhol by The Andy Warhol foundation for the visual arts; Martin Scorsese photo by Siebbi