Groundbreaking “Portal” Sculpture to Forge Real-Time Connection Between New York City and Dublin, Ireland

May 8 event offers the first look at the highly-anticipated public art installation connecting two iconic cities with a 24/7 livestream, creating an unprecedented “visual bridge”

In a special event spanning two continents, the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, the Simons Foundation, NYC Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu, and NYC Department of Transportation Art Director Angelik Vizcarrondo-Lamboy will unveil New York City’s highly anticipated public technology sculpture called “NYC Portal.” Simultaneously, in Dublin, Ireland, officials will unveil an identical sculpture called “Dublin Portal,” creating an unprecedented, real-time visual bridge between the two iconic cities via 24/7 livestream that will run through the Fall of 2024.

Wednesday, May 8 at 10:45 AM

Flatiron South Public Plaza at Broadway and 23rd Street in Manhattan (South side of 23rd Street)

In NYC – Flatiron NoMad Partnership; Simons Foundation; NYC Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu; NYC Department of Transportation Art Director Angelik Vizcarrondo-Lamboy; Portals founder and artist Benediktas Gylys; dance troupes from Dance Parade; members of the public—including Irish New Yorkers—who will be the first to interact with people in Dublin via The Portal

In Dublin – Lord Mayor of Dublin; Dublin City Council; members of the public who will be the first to interact with people in NYC via The Portal

In NYC, attendees will witness a captivating performance by dance troupes from Dance Parade, kicking off a series of engaging public programs to be streamed to Dublin and vice versa. This collaborative initiative between Flatiron NoMad Partnership, the Simons Foundation, and NYC DOT Art Program promises to redefine the boundaries of artistic expression and connectivity.

NYC Portal will be installed on the Flatiron South Public Plaza, next to the famed Flatiron Building, and will be presented by the Flatiron NoMad Partnership in collaboration with the Simons Foundation and the New York City Department of Transportation’s Art Program (NYC DOT Art).

Dublin Portal, presented by Dublin City Council and the EU Capital of Smart Tourism, will be installed facing the capital’s main street, O’Connell Street, and will capture the iconic vista of both Dublin’s famous GPO building and the Spire together.

The Portals project was conceived as a testament to the power of art to transcend physical barriers. Founded by Lithuanian artist and entrepreneur Benediktas Gylys, Portals are an invitation to meet fellow humans above borders and differences and to experience our world as it really is—united and one. The livestream provides a window between distant locations, allowing people to meet outside of their social circles and cultures, transcend geographical boundaries, and embrace the beauty of global interconnectedness.

About The Flatiron NoMad Partnership
The Flatiron NoMad Partnership, formed in 2006, is a non-profit organization and business improvement district that serves the businesses, people, and places that help make Flatiron and NoMad two of Manhattan’s most iconic and authentic destinations. Home to a range of retailers and employers, cultural and educational institutions, and a thriving residential community, the district is a center of activity. The Partnership serves as a dedicated steward and supporter of public life in the district by maintaining a clean and safe environment; spearheading area improvement projects; and marketing and championing the diverse business and retail options in this vibrant and historic neighborhood.
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About Simons Foundation
The Simons Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing the frontiers of basic science through grantmaking, in-house research and public engagement. The foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division provides opportunities for all people to forge a connection to science. Through its broad portfolio of programs, the division works to inspire a feeling of awe, wonder and belonging. It supports programs that reflect the beauty of process, the importance of innovation and the transformative power of always asking “why?”

About portals.org
Portals are an invitation to meet fellow humans above borders and prejudices and to experience our home – planet Earth – as it really is: united and one. Based in Lithuania, portals.org partners with cities, governments, and private organizations to build Portals worldwide. Since their inauguration in 2021, connecting Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland, Portals have grown into a global network that serves as a bridge to a united planet. www.portals.org

About NYC DOT Art
The New York City Department of Transportation Art Program (NYC DOT Art) partners with community-based not-for-profit organizations and professional artists to present temporary public art on NYC DOT property throughout the five boroughs for up to eleven months. Artists transform streets with colorful murals, dynamic projections, and eye-catching sculptures. A variety of public spaces serve as canvases for temporary arts, including sidewalks, fences, triangles, medians, bridges, jersey barriers, step streets, public plazas, and pedestrianized spaces. Since 2008, NYC DOT Art has produced nearly 450 temporary artworks citywide. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dotart, @nyc_DOTArt, @nyc_DOT.