The High Line is one of our favorite places to explore New York’s public art offerings, and the newest mural at 22nd street is no exception. “The Creation of the Creatures of Day and Night” by Rosana Paulino depicts two tree-women who stem from the mangrove trees common in Paulino’s native Brazil. The artist’s work draws a parallel between the Mangrove trees, which provide a crucial ecosystem in Brazil, and the black and indigenous population of Brazil; both of which have been historically mistreated and exploited. This complex history of the Brazilian biome is embodied in Paulino’s mural of the mangrove tree-women, who offer a striking sense of strength, embodying the crucial role the mangroves play. The stunning mural will be part of The High Line’s fauna and flora through December 2025.
“Le Petit Prince” by Jean-Marc de Pas
Photos by Misia Delgado
Since his story was first published in 1943, Le Petit Prince, or The Little Prince, has travelled across the world and delighted readers. His story, originally written by French author Antoine de Saint Exupéry, has been translated into hundreds of languages and is one of the best-selling books in history. Now, through the work of sculptor Jean-Marc de Pas, the Little Prince has come to reside in New York City, (we presume through G visa status if we had to guess, although we didn’t do the visa application). A bronze sculpture of the character sits on a ledge outside the Villa Albertine, a historic French bookstore on the Upper East Side and headquarters of the cultural services of the French Embassy of the U.S. The statue of the whimsical young prince invites viewers to take a moment to pause, sit, and reflect on life as he reminds us “it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
“Love Continuum” by Yoni Alter
Twisting and curving through Union Square is a new sculpture, which only reveals itself when the viewer positions themselves just-so. “Love Continuum” by Yoni Alter features a twenty-five foot long red squiggle, in a bold design that invites viewers to climb on and around it. The piece displays the word “love,” but viewers have to find the right spot to catch the sculpture’s message. The installation invites us all to reflect on different perspectives on “love,” looking at the word from new angles. Viewers can find the inviting sculpture in New York’s Union Square through late summer.
“Soft Power” by Alex Da Corte
For decades Venezuelan-American artist Alex Da Corte has been delighting viewers with his sly wit and colorful approach, and his newest installation on display in New York City does not disappoint. “Soft Power” fills The High Line’s billboard on 18th Street and 10th Avenue with a bright pink display inspired by the 1960’s Friz Freleng cartoon, The Pink Panther.
The piece explores the flex of soft power, which Da Corte describes as “a place for fairness, for clear views clearly expressed, for mutualistic relations that benefit all parties or, at least, show consideration for all parties. It is the site for truce.” The color pink has flexed its soft power for decades, selling products, representing queer freedom, and exemplifying a poised resistance. In “Soft Power,” pink takes center stage as a dominant influence, and we can’t look away. Viewers can catch this exhibition on The High Line through May.
Fordham’s Magis Sculpture Exhibition
Energized by the warming temperatures and our trip to the Pratt Institute’s sculpture walk a few weeks ago, we decided to explore the art offerings of other schools in New York City. We were happy to find the newly installed “Magis Sculpture Exhibition” on Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus. Tucked away in a calm grassy plaza just above street level, the installation features works on loan from Nantucket’s Cavalier Galleries. We were thrilled to see the work of Bjørn Skaarup, having enjoyed his “Hippo Ballerina” since 2017. This installation included Skaarup’s “The Majestic Lion,” “The Frog” and “The Giraffe,” as well as works like “After Shopping” from artist Bruno Lucchesi. As we begin to thaw from winter, we hope you get a chance to catch this great installation.
“The Space Between Us” by Risha Gorig
Floating fifteen feet above New York’s Union Square Park are two bright pink chairs, facing each other. “The Space Between Us,” (“TSBU”) is by Brooklyn based artist Risha Gorig, who is known for taking a whimsical approach to bleak themes. Gorig says the floating chairs, which represent public discourse, serve “as a poignant reminder of our essential need for communication.” As one of New York’s oldest town squares, Union Square has historically served as a “space for expression, protest, and exchange,” making it the perfect backdrop for the thought provoking and conversation starting installation. This eye-catching piece will be on display for visitors until May 1, 2025.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
We are getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit early with a celebration at our New York office. Ahead of Monday’s holiday, Fiona baked a loaf of Irish Soda Bread for us, a family recipe from her great-grandmother who hailed from Clifden, Ireland that her family has been making for decades. The recipe was even shared by Family Circle Magazine many years ago. Of course, we enjoyed it with a generous spread of Kerrygold butter. No Guinness yet, but we have a feeling this weekend’s festivities might bring a pint or two.
Pratt Institute Sculpture Park
Nestled away in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn is the sprawling campus of the Pratt Institute (“Pratt”). For over a century, Pratt has educated bachelor’s and master’s students in the arts, serving as an incubator for creativity in New York City. As temperatures began to rise here in New York, we took a lovely stroll through Pratt’s sculpture park. The park includes a collection of over seventy sculptures by artists, faculty, and graduates on display throughout campus, which is open to the public.
Pratt’s sculpture collection is constantly evolving, with works on loan to the university for a few years at a time. On this visit, were able to appreciate the works of artists like James Tyler, Nova Mihai Popa, Wendy Klemperer, Santiago Calatrava, and Martha Walker. The grounds have pieces to enjoy and explore every few meters – the sculptural lions, spheres, and “brickheads” we enjoyed barely scratch the surface of what the park has to offer. We look forward to return visits to continue exploring Pratt’s extraordinary displays!
Yayoi Kusama at Melbourne NGV
We recently visited the National Gallery of Victoria, or “NGV,” for the amazing Yayoi Kusama exhibition. Kusama has emerged as one of the most celebrated artists in the world, known for her work with pop art and minimalism and we have been fortunate to experience her work several times before at the Tate Modern in London, a public art festival in Rockaway, and the David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea. At the NGV exhibition, Kusama displays some of her iconic pumpkin sculptures, which she first began to create in 1946. Comparing the ritual of painting a pumpkin to Zen meditation, Kusama credits pumpkins with contributing “to the peace of mankind across the world and to the celebration of humanity” making her “feel at peace.” In fact, the artist’s affinity for the winter squash has elevated it to one of the most recognized icons of contemporary art around the world.
Kusama is also known for her use of polka-dots within her art, seeing them as a way to infinity. Her polka dots come to life in this exhibit through infinity rooms, sculptures, and paintings. We loved this journey through Kusama’s career, exploring the artistic themes she’s developed over the decades. The exhibition is open through April 21, and we recommend viewers stop in to catch Kusama’s masterpieces before the exhibit ends.
“Love Ever After” by Pernilla Ohrstedt Studio
At the heart of Times Square, Swedish designer Pernilla Ohrstedt is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a love… for Oysters? Her sculpture, titled “Love Ever After,” features three dimensional hearts constructed of oyster cages. The installation was created in partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, a New York nonprofit that aims to rebuild oyster reefs in New York Harbor. New York used to be known as the “big oyster” for its abundant shellfish population, and these installations aim to bring awareness to the efforts to clean up the harbor, and bring back its biodiversity. Visitors can circle the art installation to interact with the oyster cages, watching the hearts contained change color and shape as they move. Conservation and shellfish make for a lovely romance in this installation! Although we try our best, the photos don’t do this stunning sculpture justice, we recommend you visit it in person before the exhibition ends on March 4th.