John Hancock Tower Public Art Program, 2015

200 Clarendon Street, Boston 2015-2016

In 2015, Boston Properties hired me to develop a temporary public art program for one of their flagship buildings, 200 Clarendon Street, then known as the John Hancock Tower. The program commissioned three artists to create public art in, on and around the building. Resulting in a series of interventions that transformed the iconic skyscraper into a world-class venue for public art in Boston’s historic Back Bay neighborhood. The interventions established Boston Properties as a leader in civic engagement through public art by providing a platform for artistic expression and community outreach. 

In the lobby of the building, American artist MOMO painted a large-scale mural spanning 250 feet in his signature style of overlapping geometric shapes, intersecting lines and bold color that lent a vibrancy and movement to the static corporate entryway. Installed in the front plaza, Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto’s steel sculpture was configured into interlocking organic forms that cradled weary pedestrians in the soft fabric hammocks extended between the work, inviting them to ponder the skyline and a live plant, the sculpture’s centerpiece. On the building façade, French artist JR installed a 150-foot photo mural depicting a man standing on a floating platform gazing at the water in a contemplative posture. 

Curator: Pedro Alonzo

Momo: IG @momoshowpalace / momoshowpalace.com

Ernesto Neto: IG @ernestonetoart

JR: IG @jr / jr-art.net/

Photo credits: Geoff Hargadon (Momo), Todd Mazer