5 Must-See Artworks on the High Line
The New York City, High Line is a captivating urban park built on the old elevated railway track. It's a unique blend of greenery, art, and city views, offering visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. As you stroll along the repurposed structure you find a place of calm in the bustling city. The park is adorned with beautifully landscaped gardens, public art installations and stunning new perspectives of the city. As you walk the High Line, you are transported back in time juxtaposed with a contemporary artistic dialogue within the heart of New York City.
Julia Phillips, Observer, Observed, Now – December 2023, Courtesy of Timothy Schenck
Julia Phillips, known for her ceramics and metal works finds unique ways to intricately weave her art with the human body. In her piece "Observer II," the artist was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. Continuing with this theme, "Observer, Oberserved," serves as a commentary on the lurking presence of social media in society. Using crafted binoculars the viewer is able to become both the spectator of New York and the spectated, as your own gaze is projected on an LED screen.
Cosima von Bonin, WHAT IF THEY BARK?, Now– August 2024, Photo Courtesy of Timothy Schenck
Cosima von Bonin is a conceptual artist renowned for her work in painting and sculpture. Using found objects and a wealth of imagery and story-telling, the artist creates an irreverent collection of work. Her installation on the High Line strives to project the human impact on the underwater world. Her charismatic ocean creatures are playfully propped with military band ensembles, musical instruments and other theatrical costumes. Throughout her work, the artist depicts her fascination with marine life and this overlook is an entertaining installation to visit on the High Line.
Pamela Rosenkranz, Old Tree, Plinth, Now until Fall 2024, Photo Courtesy of Timothy Schenck
This is the third commission presented at the High Line, Plinth and takes the form of a bold red and pink sculpture that animates its environment. The vibrant colors chosen to mimic the vascular system draw a connection between humans and nature as the tree’s branches inhabit its environment. Pamela Rosenkranz is a Swiss-based conceptual artist who invites viewers to question what is “artificial” or “natural” in our world today.
Nina Chanel Abney, NYC LOVE, Now– Fall 2023, Photo Courtesy of Timothy Schenck
Abney brings her artistic brilliance to the High Line with her mural "NYC LOVE," Her painting celebrates the exhilarating feeling of arriving in the city that never sleeps. "NYC LOVE" is a whimsical reimagining of New York's timeless iconography, capturing Abney's initial impressions upon moving to the city in 2005. The mural encapsulates the iconic elements that make New York: subway lines, slices of pizza, the Statue of Liberty, pigeons, and the iconic Big Apple are just some of the novelty images highlighted.
Gabriel Chaile, The wind blows where it wishes, Now – April 2024, Photo Courtesy of Timothy Schenck
Gabriel Chaile is a prolific artist hailing from Argentina who specializes in sculptures, drawings, and installations. His work is inspired by his diverse heritage—Spanish, Afro-Arabic, and Indigenous Candelaria and merges Indigenous mythologies with contemporary social themes. Embracing a concept he terms "the genealogy of form," Chaile delves into the history of evolving objects and their enduring familiarity. His subjects often encompass kitchen implements, wind instruments, and planters and explore the profound connections forged through food, cooperation, and community engagement. Chaile's sculpture for the High Line is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's nature sketches as well as Biblical depictions of wind.