Cornelia Parker's 'Psychobarn' Installation on Metropolitan Museum Rooftop

Cornelia Parker's installation 'Psychobarn' opened on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The work, which debuted on September 23, 2016, reinterprets the iconic Bates Motel house from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho. Parker constructed a full-scale replica that appears as a traditional red barn from the front but reveals itself as the famous cinematic structure when viewed from behind. The installation was part of the museum's annual rooftop commission series, which invites contemporary artists to create site-specific works for the outdoor space overlooking Central Park. Parker's piece explored themes of American vernacular architecture, cinematic history, and psychological tension through its clever architectural illusion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art presented the work as part of its ongoing commitment to showcasing contemporary art alongside its historical collections. 'Psychobarn' remained on view through October 2016, offering visitors a dramatic contrast between pastoral American architecture and cinematic horror iconography. The installation marked Parker's first major public commission in New York City and continued her practice of transforming familiar objects through conceptual reframing.