Exclusive: This New York City Condo Overlooks a Giant Mural by Street Artist JR

Abby Montanez
·2 min read

Forget skyline views. This New York City condo faces a famous work of street art.

In Lower Manhattan, an apartment overlooking the artist JR’s Ballerina in Crate has hit the market asking just shy of $3 million. The apartment, at the bohemian crossroads of the East Village, Noho and Nolita neighborhoods, is listed with Michael Koeneke of Compass. Altogether, the two-bedroom, two-bath pad measures 1,238 square feet and features solid white oak wood flooring, soaring 10-foot ceilings, custom walk-in closets, and tons of natural light. There’s also a slew of smart features, like a Sonos audio system, automatic shades, and heated floors in the bathrooms, while the open-plan kitchen is decked out with Italian cabinets, natural stone counters, and top-of-the-line appliances.

More from Robb Report

A modern condo in Lower Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood just hit the market for $3 million.
A modern condo in Lower Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood just hit the market for $3 million.

The real highlight, however, is found beyond the condo’s four walls, on the exterior wall of a neighboring building, where the French artist pasted a massive black-and-white mural onto the side of a building on East 1st Street in 2015. The condo’s spacious balcony is undeniably the best spot to view the supersized artwork that depicts Charlotte Ranson, a ballerina from the Paris Opera Ballet, who appears to be asleep in a shipping crate.

In 2014, the street art star began working with the New York City Ballet to create a large-scale installation for the company. The renderings were later showcased at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Outside of his mural work, JR is also known for his cinematic achievements. In 2022, he shot and directed a short film about Ellis Island starring Robert De Niro, and even snagged an Oscar nomination at the 90th Academy Awards when he teamed up with filmmaker Agnès Varda on a documentary (Faces Places).

A mural entitled<em> Ballerina in a Crate</em> by French street artist JR looms large outside the condo’s dining area.
A mural entitled Ballerina in a Crate by French street artist JR looms large outside the condo’s dining area.

“In a submarket that typically lacks newly built inventory, 32 East 1st Street is one of the only truly turnkey condos available on the market in the East Village,” Compass agent Ian Slater, who holds the listing together with Koeneke, tells Robb Report. “What makes this property particularly cool is the mixture of old and new, highlighted by the famous mural sitting right off of its terrace. It’s the perfect combination of sophisticated luxury and New York grit.”

Click here to see all the photos of 32 East 1st Street, Unit 3A. 

Best of Robb Report

Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.