Joana Vasconcelos Creates 'Garden of Delights' Installation for Ambassador Randi Charno Levine's Manhattan Apartment

Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese artist, has finalized a commissioned artwork for the loggia of Ambassador Randi Charno Levine's New York residence located in a BIG-designed tower in West Chelsea. The installation, inspired by a 'garden of delights,' showcases columns and stylized palm-tree sculptures that serve as seating, adorned with layers of textiles, fringes, feathers, beads, and ruffles. Levine, who previously served as the US ambassador to Portugal, chose Kelly Behun to design the apartment, which displays her art collection featuring works by Tschabalala Self, Jenny Holzer, Cecily Brown, and Hank Willis Thomas. Their collaboration originated after Vasconcelos participated in a 2023 exhibition curated by Levine in Portugal, leading to an invitation to the A/W 2023 Dior show in Paris, where Vasconcelos crafted an immersive experience. Behun highlights the installation's vibrancy and its transformation with light, noting that at night, it resembles a vibrant segment of the city skyline brought indoors. The apartment also includes custom furniture from Kelly Behun Studio, a Minotti 'Cosy' sofa, and artworks by Jeffrey Gibson, Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, and Alison Elizabeth Taylor. This article is featured in Wallpaper's November 2026 Art Issue, available from October 8.