Photos By Gail

While wandering through the Chelsea Gallery district recently, I stopped by Pace Gallery on West 25th Street and headed up to the outdoor terrace. There, overlooking the eastern skyline with the Hudson River just beyond, I encountered a remarkable  sculpture of two young men standing together in a close embrace, while  each man wears a  virtual reality headst. Call this a  different kind of public art!

Entitled Close, this 2025 sculpture is by the Scandinavian artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset, and it is carved entirely from white marble. At more than five feet tall, the figures are life-size enough to feel like actual people sharing an intimate moment, which makes the VR headsets all the more intriguing.

Continue reading Modern Art Monday: Getting Close to Close by Elmgreen & Dragset →