every single item in lucy sparrow’s new york deli at the rockefeller center is made of felt
hand-stitched, bejeweled artworks include seafood, fruit, confectionery, and fancy french fromages.
contemporary british artist lucy sparrow returns with the sixth installation in her felt shop series (see previous coverage here), this time with a new york city upscale deli, where every single item is handmade out of felt. located at the rockefeller center, delicatessen on 6th resembles a traditional delicatessen with every counter – from patisserie to confectionery, fancy french fromages to fresh fish and seafood – overflowing with unique full-felted, hand-stitched, bejeweled artworks.
image by heather cromartie, courtesy of art production fund
located on the corner of 49th street and 6th avenue, lucy sparrow‘s delicatessen on 6th is a fully functioning retail experience mimicking an upscale deli, all in felt, where all items are available for purchase. the site-specific, interactive installation, which opened yesterday, october 1, 2019, invites customers into a parallel universe where hand-stitched, bejeweled artworks in the form of cheese, fish, seafood, and other fine food produce take center stage. most of the items are adorned with tiny eyes and smiles, encouraging the viewer to examine their relationship with the food they purchase and to consider their own thoughts about consumerism.
image via erin mallory long
lucy sparrow’s installation is the latest in the ‘art in focus’ public art program at rockefeller center presented in partnership with the nonprofit art production fund, which showcases exhibits by contemporary artists inspired by the new york city landscape and contemporary life. in addition to delicatessen on 6th, sparrow will display works in a number of unique and unexpected public locations throughout rockefeller center, including vitrines that will be designed to resemble aquariums and terrariums made of felt, lycra, diamante, sequins, and glass beads.
image by heather cromartie, courtesy of art production fund
image via lucy sparrow
image via erin mallory long
image by heather cromartie, courtesy of art production fund
image via lucy sparrow
image via erin mallory long 
image via erin mallory long
image via art production fund 
image via erin mallory long
image by heather cromartie, courtesy of art production fund
image via erin mallory long
image by heather cromartie, courtesy of art production fund 
image via lucy sparrow 
image via lucy sparrow
project info:
name: delicatessen on 6th
artist: lucy sparrow
organizers: art production fund and rockefeller center
location: rockefeller center, 6th avenue between 49th & 50th streets, new york, US
duration: october 1 – 20, 2019
opening hours: 11 am – 8pm / 7 days a week
shop
your own online design shop — no sales commission collected
