Wikipedia

Artwork at the World Trade Center (2001–present)

For artwork at the former complex destroyed in 2001, see Artwork at the World Trade Center (1973–2001).

The new World Trade Center complex features public art by a variety of artists.[1]

Paintings in the World Trade Center

One World Trade Center

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Background

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Asher Edelman and his New York gallery, Edelman Arts, were chosen to curate the art of the new One World Trade Center building. The team decided all public art of the building should be abstract and focus on themes of unity. None of the art commissioned for One World Trade Center made any mention of the 2001 attacks, and instead focused on moving forward. Five artists, all Americans, were selected to create works for the new Skyscraper. Two paintings by the late American artist Fritz Bultman were also chosen to hang on the walls of the lobby.[2]

ONE: Union of the Senses (2014) by José Parlá

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Main article: ONE: Union of the Senses

The lobby is dominated by José Parlá's 90-by-15-foot (27.4 by 4.6 m) mural ONE: Union of the Senses, which is thought to be the largest painting in New York City. Parla, who had previously painted large scale murals in Barclays Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music utilized his trademark technique of blending elements of street art and calligraphy. The mural is noted for its use of bright colors, which according to Parlá represent the diversity of people in New York City.[2][3]

Lenape (2015) and Unami (2015) by Donald Martiny

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The lobby also contains two paintings, Lenape and Unami by Donald Martiny. The two works were the largest Martiny had ever created, and had to be completed on-site as they were too large to have fit through the building's door. Martiny spent two months working on the paintings in the lobby of One World Trade Center.[4] About the process, Martiny said "Up to this point no one had ever seen me paint, I always paint alone. The Trade Center gets 25,000 visitors every day. That took a bit of getting used to."[5]

Both works give the appearance of being giant paint brushstrokes, but were created by Martiny completely by hand without the use of a paintbrush, knife, or any other painting tool.[6]

Lenape was named after Lenape people, an indigenous tribe that once occupied the land that is now modern-day New York City. Unami was named after the Unami language, an extinct language spoken by the Lenape people.[6]

One World Trade Center Series (2014) by Greg Goldberg

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Seven oil on canvas paintings by artist Greg Goldberg are displayed in the 64th floor sky lobby. Each painting is 5+1⁄2 by 6 feet (1.7 by 1.8 m), and was completed by Goldberg in his Connecticut studio. The paintings feature a wavy abstract colors.[7][8]

Prana by Bryan Hunt

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Bryan Hunt created the only public sculpture commissioned for the skyscraper. Prana, which means "life force" in Sanskrit, measures 13 by 5 feet (4.0 by 1.5 m), and is on display in the east side of the 64th floor sky lobby.[1] The sculpture is inspired by airships, Hunt saying "I just wanted something kind of weightless and gravity free."[9]

Gravity of Nightfall and Blue Triptych-Intrusion Into the Blue (1961) by Fritz Bultman

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Abstract artist Fritz Bultman was the only deceased artist whose art was chosen for the World Trade Center Complex; all other works were commissioned and created specifically for the World Trade Center. Bultman, who died in 1983, was a member of a group of artists nicknamed "The Irascibles", along with Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock. The paintings are on display in the North Lobby of the building.[1]

Randomly Placed Exact Percentages and Isotropic by Doug Argue

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The paintings by Minnesota artist Doug Argue are hung in the front of the lobby. Both works incorporate Argue's style of blending elements of math and science into his paintings.[10]

4 World Trade Center

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The new 4 World Trade Center was developed by Silverstein Properties, who appointed Robert Marcucci art consultant. Marcucci, along with the company's chief marketing officer Dara McQuillan, put forward the idea to create an art studio and gallery on the 69th floor of the building.[11]

Memorial by David Uda

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Irish artist David Uda was commissioned to paint a memorial to the victims, which is located on the floor of the 69th story of the World Trade Center 4. The painting took several weeks to complete, and features a large circle containing 2,606 painted flowers, one for each person that died at the World Trade Center on September 11. It also contains 13 stripes, a reference to the American flag.[12]

Large-scale Installation by Kozo Nishino

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Japanese sculptor and kinetic artist from Kyoto, Japan, Kozo Nishino was commissioned to create a 30-meter-diameter titanium arc in the lobby of 4 World Trade Center. The installation is titled Sky Memory and was his first commission in the United States. The sculpture weights 215 kilograms and is suspended about 7 meters above the ground so that it appears as if it is floating. [13]

7 World Trade Center

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Jeff Koons's Balloon Flower (Red), on loan to Larry Silverstein, was located outside 7 World Trade Center from 2006 until 2018 when it was removed for refurbishment.[14][15] In 2021, Frank Stella's Jasper's Split Star was installed in the same spot.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "1 World Trade Center tower boasts new art". NY Daily News. December 11, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Art fit for a skyscraper". The Economist. New York. November 6, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  3. ^ "The inspirational art inside One World Trade Center". CBS News. March 5, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Zappitell, Brenda Hope. "Donald Martiny on His One World Trade Center Artwork, Artistic Process". professionalartistmag.com. Professional Artist Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "One World Trade Center Installation". thewoventalepress.net. Woven Tale Press LLC. July 24, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Furman, Anna (November 19, 2015). "One World Trade Center's Lobby Gets Two Massive Brushstrokes". artsy.net. Artsy. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  7. ^ Duray, Dan (March 17, 2015). "Greg Goldberg on His Sky Lobby Paintings at One World Trade Center". artnews.com. Art News. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  8. ^ "Unity Through Abstraction: One World Trade Center's Inaugural Art Collection". artsy.net. Artsy. February 24, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  9. ^ Anthony Mason (March 5, 2015). One World Trade Center filled with five artists' works with unifying vision (Youtube video). CBS News.
  10. ^ Riley II, Charles A. (February 28, 2015). "ART REVIEW: Power of Art Succeeds in One World Trade Center Art Collection". hamptonsarthub.com. Hamptons Art Hub. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  11. ^ McKelvey, Amanda; Jacobs, Sarah (April 22, 2017). "See the hidden art gallery that was created for Spotify's new headquarters in the World Trade Center". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Tipton, Gemma (March 11, 2017). "David Uda: The Irish street artist in the World Trade Center". Irish Times.
  13. ^ Dunlap, David W. (August 7, 2013). "At the World Trade Center Site, a Space Begins to Open Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Freeman, Nate (November 14, 2019). "Wet Paint: Jeff Koons Goes Missing in Manhattan, Gagosian Sells Many $10 Million Mardens, & More Juicy Art-World Gossip". Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Dunlap, David W. (May 24, 2006). "Luster of 7 World Trade Center Has Tattered Reminder of 9/11". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Morris, Sebastian (November 27, 2021). "Silverstein Properties Reveals New Outdoor Sculpture at 7 World Trade Center in Financial District, Manhattan". Retrieved October 28, 2023.
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