High Line Art has opened public voting for the next generation of large-scale commissions for the Plinth, unveiling 62 artist proposals that could occupy the landmark public art site in 2029 and 2030. The initiative invites audiences to help shape the future of one of New York City’s most prominent contemporary sculpture platforms.
Located at the Spur, the High Line’s easternmost section overlooking 10th Avenue and West 30th Street, the Plinth has established itself as a significant destination for public art since its launch in 2019. Over the past several years, the elevated site has presented monumental works by internationally recognised artists while expanding the High Line’s programme of contemporary commissions.
International artists compete for future Plinth commissions
The newly released shortlist features proposals from artists representing 37 countries. Community feedback will help the curatorial committee narrow the selection before finalists are announced.
Among the participating artists are Nina Chanel Abney, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Ali Cherri, Kathleen Ryan, Anicka Yi, Dawn Ng, Laure Prouvost, Wendy Red Star, Kei Imazu, Es Devlin and Kevin Beasley. Collectively, the proposals explore a wide range of sculptural approaches intended for the highly visible outdoor setting.
The Plinth occupies a distinctive location within the Spur, surrounded by gardens of perennials, trees and shrubs while overlooking Manhattan’s urban skyline. Consequently, each commission must respond to both the landscape and the architectural scale of the surrounding city.
Public input continues to shape High Line Art programme
Since opening, the Plinth has hosted several high-profile public artworks, including Simone Leigh’s inaugural Brick House (2019) and Iván Argote’s Dinosaur (2024), a monumental sculpture of a pigeon that became a widely recognised New York landmark.
Currently on view through autumn 2027 is Tuan Andrew Nguyen’s The Light That Shines Through the Universe (2026), a 27-foot-tall sandstone sculpture inspired by the Bamiyan Buddhas, the monumental figures carved into Afghanistan’s cliffs more than two millennia ago and later destroyed.
Meanwhile, High Line Art has already selected the artist who will succeed Nguyen. However, the organisation will keep that commission confidential until its official unveiling next year.
Renders of all 62 proposals are now available online, allowing the public to review each concept before providing feedback. As a result, visitors can directly contribute to the selection process that will shape the High Line’s public art programme for 2029 and 2030.