Justin Kim, Neighborhood, 2023, ceramic ink on laminated glass, PS 46 Addition, Queens​

Neighborhood is a site-specific artwork created by Justin Kim for the lobby of the new P.S. 46 Addition, Queens. The printed glass installation celebrates architecturally significant Queens landmarks portrayed in orange, namely the Throgs Neck Bridge, Fort Totten Officers’ Club, Unisphere, Citi Field baseball stadium and Queensborough Bridge. Dotted among these recognizable structures are familiar and beloved fixtures in the urban landscape shown in gray, such as school buses, fire hydrants, airplanes, and pigeons. Together these suggest the backdrop of Bayside, Queens as a fertile ground for students’ creativity, imagination, and play. Illuminated by the natural light that filters through the window, Kim’s translucent blue figures come alive with dynamic energy as they engage in a range of activities, from sports to music to reading. The composition’s vibrant colors, shifts in scale and freehand elements come together to depict a multi-dimensional and exuberant locale.

To compliment Neighborhood, Kim also created Studies for Neighborhood, a collage of the artist’s preparatory drawings for the final glass artwork.