Sarah Morris, Gateway, 2010, ceramic tile on wall, Gateway High School, Queens

Gateway is a ceramic tile mosaic conceived specifically for Gateway High School by artist Sarah Morris. The piece measures over 100 feet long and is comprised of hundreds of high-gloss, brightly colored tiles. Shapes, grids, and patterns combine to create a complex composition that suggests varied spaces and structures. Similar to Morris’ paintings and films, Gateway evokes an abstract cityscape that references architecture, urban infrastructures, geographies, movement, and the underlying psychologies of urban life. Lines and vectors activate the mural’s surface with strong angles and diagonals. The resulting forms give the mural dynamic motion and varying spatial dimensions that make it feel as though it extends beyond its two-dimensional surface. Prominently situated at the front entrance of the school, the mural is visible to both those entering the building, as well as to the neighboring community at large. Seen from afar, the columns break up the piece into a series of individual cinematic-like images. Seen closer up within the portico itself, an uninterrupted vantage point provides a complimentary experience that allows the artwork to be viewed in its entirety.