German artist Bettina Pousttchi has introduced her renowned 'Vertical Highways' collection to the United States for the very first time, gracing Rockefeller Center with a captivating large-scale installation. Titled 'Vertical Highways V03' (2025), this piece will be on display in the Channel Gardens, the historical promenade connecting Fifth Avenue to The Rink, until April 17th, 2026, integrating itself into one of New York's most iconic cityscapes. Pousttchi expressed her aspiration for the artwork to foster an artistic and architectural dialogue that resonates with the rich urban history of New York City.
Crafted from repurposed guardrails, this artistic creation embodies Pousttchi's sustained exploration of elements that typically dictate and manage urban movement. Road barriers, posts, and other roadside fixtures are divested of their conventional roles through a transformative process of shaping, pressing, and coloring. They are then reassembled into striking vertical, rhythmic configurations. In 'Vertical Highways V03,' these components transcend their original function of guiding vehicles or defining spaces, instead becoming abstract units that evoke the concept of circulation without imposing it. This artistic methodology mirrors Pousttchi's ongoing fascination with how infrastructure influences perception, echoing the principles of Minimal Art and the conceptual innovations of Marcel Duchamp's readymades by isolating and systematizing these everyday objects.
This exhibition at Rockefeller Center builds upon previous presentations of the 'Vertical Highways' series in prominent public venues globally, including the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, a permanent installation near Berlin Central Station, and a location adjacent to the Istanbul Modern Museum. The New York installation further extends this narrative, embedding one of the artist's most substantial works within a dynamic commercial and cultural hub. Bettina Pousttchi's artwork also contributes to Rockefeller Center's enduring dedication to public art, a tradition initiated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Abigail Rockefeller nearly a century ago. The campus now showcases over 100 permanent art pieces, alongside a rotating schedule of temporary installations, thereby situating contemporary commissions within a distinguished architectural and cultural heritage. EB Kelly, Head of Rockefeller Center and Senior Managing Director at Tishman Speyer, highlighted how Pousttchi's 'Vertical Highways V03' reinterprets infrastructure into a compelling visual experience, reinforcing Rockefeller Center's identity as a nexus for public art in a manner that is both contemporary and deeply respectful of its architectural legacy. Over the past fifteen years, Pousttchi has cultivated a practice focused on monumental, site-specific creations that engage with their architectural and social environments, eschewing the placement of standalone objects in favor of installations that reflect the inherent logic of their surroundings, from circulation patterns to facade rhythms.
Bettina Pousttchi's work serves as a powerful reminder that creativity can transform the mundane into the magnificent, inviting us to see familiar objects and urban landscapes through a new lens. Her ability to elevate common guardrails into profound artistic statements encourages a deeper appreciation for the beauty and potential inherent in our everyday environment, fostering an optimistic outlook on how art can reshape our perception of the world and enrich public spaces.