5. Kiki Smith Mosaics at Grand Central Madison
Four new large mosaic installations by artist Kiki Smith have been unveiled at the new Grand Central Madison. The pieces are titled River Light, The Water’s Way, The Presence, The Spring, and The Sound (2022). Like much of her work since the 1980s, these mosaics draw inspiration from a number of sources “spanning scientific anatomical renderings from the eighteenth century to the abject imagery of relics, memento mori, folklore, mythology, Byzantine iconography, and medieval altarpieces.”
The pieces are spread throughout two levels of the station. River Light is the first piece that greets you as you enter Madison Concourse from the historic Grand Central Terminal. The mosaic pays homage to the nearby celestial painting on Grand Central’s ceiling, by incorporating celestial bodies. At the mezzanine level, you’ll find the other three mosaics which pull their subjects from the natural habits of Long Island. Featured in these works are wild turkeys, deer, and the waves of the Long Island sound.
