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Experience the artistry of ballet in completely new way at this immersive photography exhibit by Brad Walls. Set within a monochromatic red environment, the new exhibit "PASSÉ" celebrates movement, stillness and symmetry—showcasing ballet in a minimalist, yet intimate perspective. It makes for a beautifully choreographed dance that seems to leap from the walls.
"PASSÉ" is on view September 12–14 from 10am to 6pm at 347 Broome Street in Nolita.
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During viewings, guests will enter through The Red Room, walking a full-length red carpet originally used during the shoot itself. Life-sized prints will line the space at eye level, placing viewers face-to-face with the dancers in intense detail. Walls invites viewers to not just observe the beauty of ballet, but to step into the lives and stories of the dancers themselves.
Walls is an Australian visual artist known for transforming everyday subjects into art that contains compositions of symmetry, space and form. Now based in New York, Walls rose to fame with his signature minimalist birds-eye perspective, capturing everything from synchronized swimmers to ballet dancers.
The catalyst for the project started with a moment of vulnerability during Walls' first ballet shoot in 2021 featuring dancer Montana Rubin when a group of young triplets approached Rubin and were visibly moved. "It reminded me that ballet, while celebrated for its perfection, is also deeply human," Walls said in a press release. "This project is about honoring that—about making the distance between performer and viewer disappear."
After three years in development, "PASSÉ" is Walls' most ambitious project to date, as one of the largest choreographed ballet photoshoots ever attempted, involving 60 dancers and a 10-person crew during a single eight-hour long session of continuous shooting. For the shoot, a red carpet the size of a football field was laid across a warehouse floor, with a large light bounce suspended above to create even, diffused lighting throughout the space. Then, a custom crane rig was built for the camera to capture the moments from directly above.
It reminded me that ballet, while celebrated for its perfection, is also deeply human.
The photoshoot was choreographed by Ian Schwaner, who crafted the movements of the dancers in sequences that fused classical discipline with graphic design. The cast includes some of the most skilled ballerinas in the country, with dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School and Ballet East. "The result is not just a study of dance, but a choreography of form, precision and pattern seen from a perspective rarely experienced," Walls said in a statement.
Everyone who visits the exhibit will also receive a handwritten postcard from one of the featured ballerinas, printed with images from the show—serving as a lasting memento and a personal connection to the art itself. Walls invites New Yorkers to view his creation not just as an audience member, but as an active member of the story.