Yinka Shonibare, Wind Sculpture (2018), via Art Observed

With the weather turning slowly towards the gentle breezes and sunshine of spring in New York, a new sculpture by Yinka Shonibare has sprung up on the corner of 5th Ave and 57th, the southeastern corner of Central Park and long-running home to the Public Art Fund’s ongoing commission project.  The piece is a particularly resonant one for the current juncture, mixing bright colors and a fluid, windswept form that carries deeper political subtexts and histories of capitalist exploitation of the African continent.  (more…)

Hank Willis Thomas has joined the Public Art Fund’s Board of Directors, after working with the organization for several years prior on major projects.  “2017 is a significant year for Public Art Fund, and we’re thrilled that Hank, an artist with whom Public Art Fund has a wonderful history, has joined our Board,” says Nicholas Baume, Public Art Fund’s director and chief curator.  “His thoughtful and boundary-pushing work in the public realm, as well as his engagement with questions and issues at the core of our current moment, make Hank an in invaluable addition to our board leadership.” (more…)

Elmgreen & Dragset, Van Gogh’s Ear (2016), Courtesy of the artists and K11 Art Foundation, Galerie Perrotin, Galleria Massimo de Carlo and Victoria Miro  Gallery Photo: Jason Wyche, Courtesy Public Art Fund, NY

This month, the Public Art Fund unveiled Van Gogh’s Ear, the organization’s ambitious collaboration with artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset.  Presented to the public on a fittingly drizzly wet April morning (considering the sculpture’s subject matter), the completely drained pool recalls those of 1950’s Los Angeles.   The impressive 354-inch high sculpture, designed and crafted by the duo in the form of an ear, makes explicit reference to Van Gogh, whose dismembered ear has been the subject of various speculations in art history, stands on the hectic corner of 5th avenue, showing off its intricately detailed aqua blue interior, stainless steel ladder, glowing lights and accompanying diving board.  (more…)

Hank Willis Thomas, The Truth Is I See You (Installation View) at MetroTech Promenade

The Truth Is I See You, the Public Art Fund’s recent collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Hank Willis Thomas, is on view at MetroTech Promenade through June 3rd, 2016. Dispersed throughout the flush, green common areas of the park, and nestled amongst high rise commercial buildings in downtown Brooklyn, the project addresses issues of communication, individuality and globalism within the frame of Brooklyn, one of the most dynamic urban areas of the United States.  Focusing particularly on languages spoken throughout the city, Thomas installed all twenty-two lines of Ryan Alexiev’s Truth Poem in a similar fashion to street signs, each showing a line from this poem in English, while the other side gives its translation in languages including Chinese, Polish, German and Hebrew, accompanied by a pronunciation guide. (more…)

Installation view, Tatsu Nishi, Discovering Columbus

All photos by Elene Damenia for Art Observed

Through November 18th, New Yorkers and visitors to the city will be able to see what mayor Bloomberg calls “one of the icons of our city,” within the setting of a living room designed by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi. (more…)

Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi plans to build a structure supporting a living room which would enclose Columbus Circle’s historic monument, 6 stories above ground. The project, developed by the Public Art Fund, will allow the New York community to scale scaffolding and entertain an intimate face-to-face visit with the statue, surrounded by coffee tables, couches, and and the comforts of home. Workers will use the living room as an enclosed perch for restoration of the monument when the exhibition closes on November 18.

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For the coming summer and fall months, Public Art Fund has organized “Common Ground’, an outdoor exhibition of sculptural and performance artworks.  Ten international artists were asked to present installations currently dotted around the historic center of City Hall Park in downtown New York.  The exhibit debuted May 24, and will remain on site for visitors until the end of November.

“Now, Speak!” (2011) by Amalia Pica before  Paul McCarthy’s inflatable ketchup bottle (more…)

All photographs taken by Zoe Zabor for Art Observed

Situated on the active corner of Fifth Avenue and 60th Street, Paola Pivi‘s new installation of a 1977 Piper Seneca opened on June 20th, surprising onlookers with its unusual presence. The six-seater plane is to continuously rotate 360-degrees on its axis until August 26 in the Doris C. Freedman Plaza. Pivi’s “How I Roll” is the latest project of the Public Art Fund, an organization focused on facilitating public art projects in New York City since 1977.

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Sol Lewitt Installation at City Hall Park, all images courtesy of Gautier Pellegrin for Art Observed.

27 career spanning works from the late conceptual artist Sol LeWitt are now on view at City Hall Park through December 2nd. Curated from museums and private collections around the the world, the landmark exhibition Sol LeWitt: Structures, 1965-2006 is the first outdoor career survey of the groundbreaking artist’s conceptual work.

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Eva Rothschild, Empire (2011). All images courtesy are via Public Art Fund.

Installed at the Doris C. Freedman Plaza in Central Park, New York, “Empire” is Irish sculptor Eva Rothschild’s first commissioned public art work in the United States. Appearing at once ominous and playful, “Empire” greets pedestrians at the southeast entrance to the park. The sculpture joins the ranks of past Public Art Fund art installations that have been displayed in the plaza.

Eva Rothschild, Empire (detail) (2011)

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Artist Rob Pruitt admires his latest work, The Andy Monument (2011). All images Nicolas Linnert for Art Observed.

Today at the northwest corner of Union Square, Rob Pruitt unveiled his latest work, The Andy Monument, in partnership with New York’s Public Art Fund. The nearly 10-foot tall sculpture is a chrome tribute to the seminal figure of Pop Art and major cultural influence in 20^th century New York City history. Situated at the pedestrian intersection at 17^th Street and Broadway, it is just steps from the site of Warhol’s former studio space, the “Factory.”

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Video of Rob Pruitt unveiling The Andy Monument

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New York City Waterfalls, Olafur Eliasson via NYTimes

Danish Artist, Olafur Eliasson has completed his $15.5 million New York City Waterfalls project. This sublime installation consists of four free-standing cataracts that have been transformed into 90 to 120 feet of falling water. The waterfalls started flowing yesterday, June 26th and will continue through October 13th.

Olafur Eliasson’s The New York City Waterfalls in New York [Artdaily]
Niagara’s New Rivals -For a Time, Anyway [Wall Street Journal]
The Falls Guy [NYMag]
Olafur Eliasson set to make a splash in Manhattan with waterfalls [Guardian UK]
Eliasson’s Waterfalls Make Instant Monuments for N.Y. Harbor [Bloomberg]
Cascades, Sing the City Energetic [NYTimes]
‘Waterfalls’ art installation to shower East River [NYDaily News]

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What My Dad Gave Me at the Rockefeller Center, Chris Burden via Artdaily

Chris Burden has installed a piece called What My Dad Gave Me at the Rockefeller Center’s Channel Gardens. In brief, it is a 65-foot skyscraper made completely out of small, stainless steel Erector Set pieces. This six-story exhibition is presented by the Public Art Fund and Tishman Speyer.

Erector Set Skyscraper at Rockefeller Center Is Adult Fantasy [Bloomberg]
An Artist’s Vision: Building With Toys, but on a Grand Scale [New York Times]
Chris Burden: What My Dad Gave Me [Public Art Fund]
Public Art Fund Opens Chris Burden’s What My Dad Gave Me at Rockefeller Center [Artdaily]
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