Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
In the 1970s, artist William Wegman adopted his first Weimaraner. Fittingly named Man Ray, this dog played a pivotal role in the evolution of Wegman’s creative practice. Not only did the pup prompt the artist to turn his attention from painting to photography, but he also inspired Wegman’s most well-known works: portraits of Weimaraners wearing clothing. While most of these portraits have been rendered on film, a recent collaboration has reimagined these photographs as Stationary Figures, a series of subway mosaics.
Stationary Figures was commissioned by the MTA Arts & Design, a program that brings public art to the New York City Subway. Designed to grace the walls of the recently re-opened 23rd Street station, the eye-catching installation comprises 11 panels starring Flo and Topper—two of Wegman’s Weimaraners—posing as humans. Specifically, Wegman dressed them as the very people who will see the art on a daily basis: commuters.
Whether wearing a flannel shirt or shiny raincoat, each dog captures the spirit of an everyday New Yorker. “I wanted to create portraits of individual characters, people who you might see next to you on the platform,” he explains. “For these I dressed the dogs in more or less ordinary clothes, nothing too fashionable.”
After dressing and photographing the pair, Wegman relied on Mayer Of Munich, a historic glass and mosaic workshop, to fabricate mosaics based on the images. “I was very interested in the way in which photographs, even the out of focus dogs in the background of some images, could be translated into mosaic by Mayer of Munich, who skillfully turned grey stones into grey dogs.”
The result? Glistening works of art that are making morning commutes a little bit brighter.
Famed artist William Wegman has adorned New York City Subway stations with mosaics inspired by his iconic Weimaraner portraits.
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
Stationary Figures (2018) © William Wegman, NYC Transit 23 St station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design
William Wegman: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
MTA Arts & Design: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by MTA Arts & Design.
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