Twelve artists from five continents have been shortlisted for the chance to shine on one of New York City’s largest and most prominent public art stages: the High Line plinth. Two of the finalists will ultimately be chosen to install their work for 18 months each in 2022 and 2024.
The artists—Iván Argote, Nina Beier, Margarita Cabrera, Nick Cave, Banu Cennetoğlu, Rafa Esparza, Teresita Fernández, Kapwani Kiwanga, Lu Pingyuan, Pamela Rosenkranz, Mary Sibande, and Andra Ursuţa—offer meditations on subjects ranging from climate change to war, human rights, the Mexican-American border, monuments, and even the humble urban pigeon. An exhibition of sculptural models of the proposed artworks will be presented on the High Line beginning in January 2021.
The winners—selected by the High Line curatorial team after they invited the public to weigh in on a long list of 80 proposals—will hold court on a bridge overlooking Tenth Avenue at 30th Street in the Chelsea gallery district. The inaugural commission, Simone Leigh’s towering female bust Brick House, will remain on view there until spring 2021.
Here are renderings of the proposed projects. And if you’re in New York, note that the High Line is limiting the number of people who can visit the park at any one time—so take it from us, it’s divine right now.
Iván Argote, Dinosaur. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Nina Beier, Women and Children. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Margarita Cabrera, UPLIFT New York. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Nick Cave, A·mal·gam . Courtesy High Line Arts.
Banu Cennetoğlu, right?. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Rafa Esparza, KT Hyperspace. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Teresita Fernández, Maelstrom. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Kapwani Kiwanga, On growth. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Lu Pingyuan, Tree. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Mary Sibande, Old wars are out and a new reason of humanity is in. Courtesy High Line Arts.
Andra Ursuţa, Broken Obelisk. Courtesy High Line Arts.