Lola Flash's 'The Little Prince' Becomes Facade Foundation's Largest Public Artwork on Martinique Hotel

The Facade Foundation has introduced 'The Little Prince,' a striking new installation by artist Lola Flash, located on the Martinique Hotel's exterior in New York. This marks the largest public artwork by the non-profit to date, which will be on display until spring 2027. The work is derived from a 32-by-24-inch archival print from Flash's ongoing self-portrait series 'syzygy, the vision,' initiated in 2019. Flash portrays landscapes influenced by histories of displacement, featuring herself in a space helmet and an orange prison uniform, among other elements. In 'The Little Prince,' she is depicted in front of a significant baobab tree, known as the 'Tree of Life' for its numerous life-sustaining properties. The artist describes the installation as a 'multi-dimensional contemplation' of intersectional disadvantages and cultural conflicts, reflecting on America's mass incarceration. This installation is the fifth artwork created by the Facade Foundation in 18 months, which repurposes New York City’s scaffolding and debris netting into accessible public art. The project coincides with the Mamdani administration's efforts to rethink the city's scaffolding policies.