First floor

Richard Artschwager
blips
1976
Location: Throughout P.S.1
Richard Artschwager's round shapes were prevalent in the late 1970s and 1980s. The artist placed them in various locations around New York City, including subway platforms and smokestacks. His intention was to bring the public's attention to surfaces and structures that usually go unnoticed. These shapes are present throughout P.S.1, but many are tucked away and almost hidden from plain view. A few date from 1976, such as one on the window in the Richard Serra installation on the roof. Artschwager was invited back in 1997 to recreate new shapes in the renovated building.


Richard Artschwager
Exit-Don't fight City Hall
1976
Location: First floor, hallway, Five red "exit" bulbs
This site-specific installation was completed in 1976 as part of the museum's inaugural exhibition entitled Rooms. By painting the word "Exit" on each of the five bulbs illuminating the corridor, the artist explores the role of artwork in a familiar setting, as well as the importance of a non-neutral exhibition space.


Keith Sonnier
Tunnel of Tears
1997
Location: "Chimney" in the foyer of the lobby
A minimalist artist, Keith Sonnier is known for his use of neon lights in architectural contexts. His Tunnel of Tears was installed for the reopening of P.S.1 in 1997. The artist uses two fluorescent light fixtures, one blue and one pink, to form a series of neon loops. The individual fixtures are positioned at two different heights along the walls of the chimney. Like much of his work, Sonnier considers the architecture of the exhibition's location in order to change our perception of the space.