Artist imagines MetroCards designed by Yayoi Kusama, Anish Kapoor, and more

Illustrator Pranavi Suthagar imagines the designs that renowned artists might grace the MetroCard with, if allowed

As the imminent demise of the MetroCard looms, to be replaced by new electronic readers, what better time to have some fun with the old yellow-and-blue transit passes? Since their inception in the 1990s, it hasn't been uncommon for artists and brands to bring a fresh look to the MetroCard every now and then, often in the name of promotion but whatever it may be, it's almost always a welcomed break from the norm.

Following the launch of 50,000 limited-edition MetroCards designed by conceptual artist Barbara Kruger as part of Performa 17, the folks at Format magazine began wondering what the MetroCard might look like if other artists like Anish Kapoor, Awol Erizku, and Yayoi Kusama were given an opportunity to design them. After commissioning illustrator Pranavi Suthagar to imagine the results, here's what she came up with.

Anish Kapoor

The British sculptor, who brought his installation entitled Descension to Brooklyn Bridge Park over the summer, might craft something like this:

Awol Erizku

Ethiopian-born and Bronx-raised contemporary artist Awol Erizku, who is the photographer behind Beyonce's famous Instagram pregnancy announcement photo, might design a MetroCard along these lines:

Yayoi Kusama

If Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, behind the acclaimed "Infinity Mirrors" exhibit, perhaps it would go something like this:

Check out more designs of what renowned artists might bring to the MetroCard, if the MTA tapped them to shake things up a bit.

• The Art MetroCards We Wish Existed [Format Magazine]
• Barbara Kruger-designed MetroCards will appear in the NYC subway this week [Curbed]
• See the MTA's new MetroCard-replacing electronic readers [Curbed]