José Parlá ONE: Union of the Senses, 2014
One World Trade Center
Most people think of public art in New York as an outdoor thing, and whether you’re talking about statues like the ones found in Central Park or temporary projects by contemporary artists, that’s generally the case. But there’s another species of public art that exists—one that’s indoors and usually overlooked by New Yorkers as they rush about their business: the artworks permanently on view in various building lobbies and eating and drinking establishments. They run the gamut of mediums from murals to state-of-the-art video installations. And because these works are permanent, their styles usually reflect the era in which the buildlings in which they are located originally were built. For proof, look no further than this selection of works found in buildings old and new, ranging from Art Deco skyscrapers to the latest glass-and steel towers.
