Commerce gives way to a bit of culture as Show Media, a Las Vegas-based company that owns about 50% of the ad space on taxi cab roofs in NYC, will feature artwork instead of the usual ads throughout January.

Three artists including Yoko Ono, Alex Katz and Shirin Neshat will have their work adorned on a 14″ x 48″ space on 160 cabs each in the Big Apple. According to the New York Times, the project–called “Art Adds”–is costing Show $100,000 in lost revenue.

While they’re sadly not doing anything to erase the annoying Channel 7 news ticker when you hop in a yellow cab, Show Media’s co-owner John Amato tells the NYT that the timing was right to capitalize with a little high art. “I thought it was time to take a step back. January’s a slow month,” he says. “I could have cut my rates but instead I decided to hit the mute button and give something back to the city.”

Via Gothamist

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