STARLIGHT

“Every building needs a soul.” declared former museum director, susan henshaw jones. her open-ended directive led to an unexpected light installation that changes the reading of the historic building. 

Starlight replaces a 19th-century chandelier, giving the museum a central gathering space and reflecting the museum’s mission to connect past and present.

A uniform 3-dimensional grid of LED lights, each of the 5,283 points of light are constructed from a double-sided circuit board on which LEDs are mounted above and below. Bursts of star patterns change one's perception, forming perforated veils to the classical architecture. In true elevation, the installation is a circular form. As one enters the museum from Fifth Avenue, the lower half is visible. From the 2nd floor, the upper region of the circle is visible and is completed by its reflection in the white marble floor. Ascending the stairs visitors see the fixture in its intended entirety.

Starlight has become a strong component of the museum’s identity and is among the museum’s most photographed features.