Founded by sculptor Mark di Suvero in 1986, Socrates Sculpture Park has served as a cultural anchor in Queens for more than thirty years, activating the urban green space with contemporary art, live performances, arts education and community festivals. The backbone of the organization is its Public Art Program, which presents two major exhibitions each year: a thematic group show that features mature yet underrecognized artists, and the Socrates Annual, which gives emerging artists the opportunity to realize large-scale work outdoors.
Socrates Sculpture Park
Mary Miss, Field Rotation, 1980-81. Site-specific installation Governors State University, Park Forest South, Il. ©Mary Miss.
Maren Hassinger, Performance of Pink Trash, 1982. Performance in Central Park, Van Corlandt Park, and Prospect Park, New York
Performance documentation courtesy Horace Brockington.
Patricia Johanson, Fair Park Lagoon, Dallas, Texas, 1981.
Gunite and native plantings, site-specific installation. Photo: Michael Barera
Paul Ramírez Jonas; 'Eternal Flame;' 2020; Courtesy the Artist; Socrates Sculpture Park; and Galeria Nara Roesler São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York.
Socrates Sculpture Park's staff grilling lunch on Paul Ramírez Jonas' 'Eternal Flame;' 2020; Courtesy the Artist; Socrates Sculpture Park; and Galeria Nara Roesler São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York.
Xaviera Simmons; ‘The structure the labor the foundation the escape the pause;’ 2020; Courtesy the Artist, Socrates Sculpture Park, and David Castillo Gallery; Photo by Sara Morgan.
Jeffrey Gibson; 'Because Once You Enter My House It Becomes Our House;' 2020; Courtesy the Artist; Socrates Sculpture Park; Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York; Kavi Gupta, Chicago; Roberts Projects, Los Angeles; Image by Scott Lynch
Jeffrey Gibson; 'Because Once You Enter My House It Becomes Our House;' 2020; Courtesy the Artist; Socrates Sculpture Park; Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York; Kavi Gupta, Chicago; Roberts Projects, Los Angeles; Image by Scott Lynch
Xaviera Simmons; ‘The structure the labor the foundation the escape the pause;’ 2020; Courtesy the Artist, Socrates Sculpture Park, and David Castillo Gallery; Photo by Sara Morgan.
1964
Philip Johnson commissioned Warhol to make a large-scale work for the exterior for his pavilion for the New York World’s Fair, along with other artists. Warhol’s provocative response, a multiple portrait of ‘Most Wanted Men’ was installed a few days before the opening but was deemed too inflammatory and contrary to the upbeat image of the World’s Fair and the work was taken down.