jaume plensa's 'behind the walls' introduces frieze sculpture at rockefeller center

as the iconic rockefeller center is transformed into an urban sculpture park, jaume plensa is among the 14 international artists to exhibit at new york’s inaugural launch of ‘frieze sculpture 2019.’ the barcelona-born artist often encapsulates themes of globalization and human presence, conveyed within public space. situated along fifth avenue at the entrance of the channel gardens, plensa’s 7.5 meter-high work presents the distorted depiction of a child’s head in polyester resin and marble dust.

jaume plensa, behind the walls, 2019, rockefeller center, new york. courtesy the artist and richard gray gallery | © jaume plensa studio
image by christopher burke studio

the new public art initiative at rockefeller center will exhibit from april 25th through june 28th, 2019. presented in partnership with tishman speyer, frieze sculpture 2019 was curated by brett littman, director of the isamu noguchi foundation and garden museum in long island city, new york. while jaume plensa’s ‘behind the walls’ stands at the head of the center’s promenade, the sprawl of art throughout the frieze sculpture exhibition encourages the viewer to further explore the whole campus, including its interior spaces and hidden histories.

image © timothy schenck, courtesy of timothy schenck/frieze

image © timothy schenck

image © timothy schenck

image © timothy schenck

image © timothy schenck

project info:

project title: ‘behind the walls’

artist: jaume plensa

location: rockefeller center, new york city

material: polyester resin and marble dust

initiative: frieze sculpture 2019

curator: brett littman

presented by: richard gray gallery and galerie lelong