Public Art Fund

In Sdrienne Elise Tarver's exhibition "She who sits," Black matriarchs are seated in power, their agency and self-affirmation on full display. Tarver’s new series has transformed 300 🚌🚏 JCDecaux North America, Inc. bus shelters across NYC, Chicago, and Boston into sites of reflection, where her subjects reclaim their power through rest. Have the chance to hear Tarver explore the cultural depth of her work at three upcoming ✨FREE✨ talks: 📅 Oct. 22 - BOSTON: at WBUR's CitySpace), in collaboration with Boston University College of Fine Arts: https://lnkd.in/eNs6DEd3 📅 Nov. 8 - CHICAGO: at University of Chicago: https://lnkd.in/ebWVcmNN 📅 Nov. 13 - NYC: at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art: https://lnkd.in/estQg6FE #AdrienneEliseTarver #SheWhoSits “In the face of the sun” 2024 "At The Cookout (Mom)," 2024 “Dark Star,” 2024 📷: Mel Taing, courtesy #PublicArtFundNY Artworks presented by #PublicArtFund as a part of “Adrienne Elise Tarver: She who sits,” an exhibition on 300 JCDecaux bus shelters in New York, Chicago, and Boston, Aug 14, 2024 - Nov 24, 2024.

Join Monument Lab 2024 Fellow  Cannupa Hanska Luger and director Paul Farber for a conversation about Luger’s Public Art Fund exhibition “Attrition,” on view at City Hall Park. Attrition is a 10-foot-long, larger-than-life skeletal sculpture made from steel with an ash-black patina. The arresting form emerges from the soil beneath, visible through grasses indigenous to this region. The work highlights the profound interdependence between animals, humans, and the land. It draws attention to the loss, trauma, and violence that can result from a single disruption in an ecosystem. Placed on the pathway to City Hall, Attrition symbolically engages with New York City’s heart of policy-making, bringing to light the history of the bison’s survival. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eW9HmQnX

How can a single species define survival? 🦬🌍 Cannupa hanska Luger's powerful installation, "Attrition," serves as a solemn reminder of the near extinction of the bison and the attempted erasure of Indigenous cultures. On this Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor both the land and the people who have fought for survival. The bison—once targeted for destruction—now stands as a symbol of resilience and connection. Luger's work asks us to rethink our relationship with nature, humanity, and the histories written in steel and bone. Join us in reflecting on this past and envisioning a future grounded in respect and stewardship. 🗓️ Mark your calendars—explore these themes further during Luger's talk with Paul Farber, Director of Monument Lab, on Wednesday, October 30th at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Seating is limited, reserve your FREE spot here: bit.ly/3ZR2CWD #CannupaHanskaLuger, ‘Attrition,” 2024 📷: Nicholas Knight, courtesy of #PublicArtFundNY Presented by #PublicArtFund at City Hall Park, June, 5, 2024-Nov, 17, 2024

✨📷 #PAFpicoftheweek by Art in Public's Director Tamsin Dillon “ 'Graft' at Central Park invites viewers to contemplate the resilience of cultural identity, and the diasporic experiences which have infused New York City’s history and present day.”—Public Art Fund Senior Curator, Melanie Kress In observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Edra Soto’s "Graft," transforms Doris C. Freedman Plaza in Central Park Conservancy into a space for reflection and community. With her first large-scale public art commission in NYC, Soto uses "rejas"—patterned wrought screen-like iron gates prevalent in Puerto Rican architecture—to celebrate cultural identity and the complexities of migration. 🇵🇷 🧱 Crafted from red terrazzo concrete and corten steel, "Graft" features geometric patterns that evoke Caribbean influences and foster a sense of belonging. This installation reminds us of the connections we share in a city that millions call home. Experience the installation and reflect on how 🌍❤️ migration shapes our identities and the spaces we inhabit: bit.ly/PAFEdraSoto

Rest isn’t passive—it's powerful. In "She who sits," Adrienne Elise explores Black matriarchy through intimate portraits displayed on 🚌 🚏 JCDecaux North America, Inc.'s bus shelters across NYC, Chicago, and Boston. Learn more about the cultural and historical depth of this work in Tarver's upcoming talks: 🗓 Tuesday, October 22nd at WBUR's CitySpace, in collaboration with Boston University College of Fine Arts in Boston: bit.ly/4eFozMP 🗓 Wednsday, November 13th at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in NYC: bit.ly/3Ybe2Df Register for both ✨FREE✨ talks and hear Tarver unpack the cultural significance of rest, power, and visibility in her first solo public art exhibition. #AdrienneEliseTarver #SheWhoSits “In the face of the sun” 2024 "At The Cookout (Mom)," 2024 “Dark Star,” 2024 📷: Mel Taing, courtesy #PublicArtFundNY Artworks presented by #PublicArtFund as a part of “Adrienne Elise Tarver: She who sits,” an exhibition on 300 JCDecaux bus shelters in New York, Chicago, and Boston, Aug 14, 2024 - Nov 24, 2024.

#TBT to two unforgettable ✨FREE✨ Public Art Fund events that had us making waves and pondering the depths of art! 🗓️ September 21 & 27: we dove into our collaboration with The Film-Makers' Cooperative at the NYC Landmark Hamilton Fish Pool for “No Swimsuit Required." 🌊💧🎥 Guests stepped inside the drained pool, lounged on sunbeds, and experienced experimental films exploring water's significance, accompanied by live sound performances from Eli Keszler and Maria Chavez. 🗓️ September 30: We were captivated by Huma Bhabha at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art as she discussed her monumental installation “Before The End” at Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation. In conversation with Public Art Fund's Nicholas Baume, she delved into her four large-scale sculptures, inviting us to reflect on our connections to history and the earth. 🌌 🫂 Thank you for joining us in these vibrant explorations of art and culture! Don't miss future free programs like these, sign up for our newsletter 📰 and stay updated: bit.ly/42HoG4m 📷: Liz Ligon & #PublicArtFund, courtesy of #PublicArtFundNY

How can a single disruption in nature reshape entire ecosystems? Join us on Wednsday, October 30 at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art for a conversation between artist Cannupa Hanska Luger and Paul Farber, Director of Monument Lab, as they delve into Luger’s Public Art Fund exhibition "Attrition," on view at City Hall Park. Luger's striking 10-foot-long skeletal sculpture of a bison emphasizes the deep connections between animals, humans, and the land, shedding light on the loss and trauma that arise from ecological disruptions. 🦬🌿 Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. Reserve your 🔥FREE🔥 spot here: bit.ly/3ZR2CWD #CannupaHanskaLuger, ‘Attrition,” 2024 📷: Nicholas Knight, courtesy of #PublicArtFundNY Presented by #PublicArtFund at City Hall Park, June, 5, 2024-Nov, 17, 2024

🎉 Happy birthday to the visionary Les Levine, born on this day in 1935! Renowned for his innovative approach to media-based art, Levine has been a pivotal figure in the conceptual art movement since the 1960s. His prolific career spans painting, sculpture, installation, and media campaigns, blending art with everyday life. A highlight of Levine's impact was the 1985 exhibition "Messages to the Public: Media Mass," at Times Square. The Public Art Fund exhibition featured a series of artists’ projects created specifically for the Spectacolor board, transforming the iconic location into a vibrant platform for noncommercial art. 🖼️✨ By challenging the boundaries between fine art and commercial advertising, Levine's work has encouraged reflection on the pervasive influence of media in our lives. Learn more: bit.ly/PAFLesLevine

📷 #PAFpicofthweek by Laurie: A moment of exploration amidst Huma Bhabha’s monumental installation "Before The End" at Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation. Blending myth with sci-fi, Bhabha's monolithic bronze sculptures loom over the Pier 3 Uplands, its weathered bronze figures seemingly pulled from the earth itself. Each sculpture feels both ancient and futuristic, inviting visitors to pause and reflect—or in this case, to run free! 🌀✨ Explore the exhibition: bit.ly/PAFhumabhabha

“Dominoes in my life and the life of many Puerto Ricans is the preferred form of leisure of spending time doing nothing, it’s a very old tradition that has carried on. It’s a nice intentional connection to the Puerto Rican tradition and life at home.”—Edra Soto What stories do our surroundings tell? “Graft,” Edra Soto’s thought-provoking installation at the Doris C. Freedman Plaza in Central Park Conservancy, invites us to explore just that. Inspired by the iconic "rejas"—wrought iron patterned screens seen across 🇵🇷 Puerto Rican neighborhoods—Soto’s work merges architecture, migration, and cultural heritage. "Graft" honors the resilience and history of Puerto Rican communities, encouraging visitors to reflect on the meanings of home, identity, and tradition. Take a seat, play dominoes, and connect with a space that bridges Puerto Rico and New York, celebrating the enduring ties between place and culture. 📍 On view now through August 2025. Learn more: bit.ly/PAFEdraSoto #PublicArtFundNY #PublicArtFund #HispanicHeritageMonth