High Line Art Invites Public Feedback on 62 Artist Proposals for Future Plinth Commission

High Line Art is seeking public input on 62 artist proposals for its plinth commission, which will be displayed in 2029 and 2030 on the High Line in New York City. The deadline for public comments is September 8, where participants can share their thoughts on artworks ranging from a giant teddy bear to a colorful pair of legs.

Public Engagement in Art Selection

The High Line Plinth is a platform for innovative public art, and this year, the initiative has captured the attention of numerous artists, including Nina Chanel Abney and Kelly Akashi. The public can respond to essential questions such as, “Can you imagine this artwork on the Plinth? Why or why not?” This feedback process aims to ensure the selected works resonate with the community and reflect contemporary themes.

High Line Art has a history of engaging the public in art selection. Previous commissions, such as Iván Argote’s Dinosaur, which is a giant sculpture of a pigeon, have sparked significant public interest, even leading to a petition for its permanence. This ongoing dialogue between artists and the community has been a hallmark of the High Line's approach to public art.

Notable Proposals and Their Creators

The proposals for the upcoming Plinth commission come from a diverse group of artists nominated by nine international curators, including Diana Campbell Betancourt and Emma Enderby. Each proposal is designed to provoke thought and conversation, offering unique perspectives on what public monuments can represent in today's society.

Among the notable proposals are:

• Full-scale replica of a brownstone covered in clothing
• A giant teddy bear
• A pair of legs painted with colorful dots

These proposals are part of a broader effort to showcase art that reflects the global community, with artists hailing from countries as diverse as Bangladesh, Argentina, and Madagascar.

History of High Line Plinth Commissions

The concept of the High Line Plinth was introduced in 2016, with the first commissions displayed in 2019 and 2021. The public's involvement in the selection process has evolved, with the most recent public input leading to the commissioning of Tuan Andrew Nguyen’s The Light That Shines Through the Universe, a large-scale representation of a Bamiyan Buddha currently on display.

High Line Art's director, Cecilia Alemani, expressed her enthusiasm for public engagement, stating, “After receiving such enthusiastic responses to Iván Argote’s Dinosaur and Tuan Andrew Nguyen’s The Light That Shines Through the Universe, we’re very eager to hear from the public on what they’d like to see on the High Line Plinth in the future.”