High Line's New Spur Section Opens with Simone Leigh's 'Brick House'

The High Line, New York's elevated park built on a former railway, opened its latest section, The Spur, in early June 2019. This terrace at 30th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues marks the first time High Line Art, directed by Cecilia Alemani, was directly involved in the space's design, integrating art into the architecture. At its center is the Plinth, a pedestal inspired by London's Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, which will feature a rotating commission every eighteen months. The inaugural work is Simone Leigh's 'Brick House,' a monumental bronze bust of a Black woman, the artist's first large-scale public sculpture. Alemani stated the space was designed as a European-style plaza, encouraging artists to create works that dialogue with the surrounding skyscrapers. The High Line's art program typically displays works for twelve months to interact with seasonal vegetation, fostering an informal, democratic experience. The park, which runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, has transformed the area from post-industrial to luxury residential.