New York’s Times Square has a new attraction in place, one that encourages visitors to look down rather than up. Artist Shantell Martin’s The Path: A Meditation of Lines—a 160-foot-long black and white mural, which doubles as a walking maze—is painted onto Times Square’s Broadway plaza and visible through November 20, 2024. Complimented by Heller‘s Limbo chairs and Gehry Left Twist Cube side tables, the space, presented by Times Square Arts, offers moments of respite, inviting pause and reflection in one of Manhattan’s busiest locales.
“I’m a big lover of furniture—I see it as lines and architecture for the body,” says Martin, whose notable collaborations also include working with the Boston Ballet. “The Limbo chair, in many ways, feels like an extension of my own drawn line. It’s minimal, but still effortlessly bold and elegant.” The installation features 15 black Limbo chairs, designed by Hylnur Atlason, and four Gehry Left Twist Cube side tables, designed by Frank Gehry, placed at both ends of the winding walking paths, designed to encourage moving with intention—and presence.
Heller’s Limbo chairs invite visitors to pause and reflect as part of Shantell Martin’s ‘The Path: A Meditation of Lines’ installation presented by Time Square Arts. Photography by Michael Hull Photo; courtesy of Times Square Arts.
“This partnership is perfect in so many ways—both Heller and Shantell Martin are cutting through the chaos of Times Square with bold, engaging, and mindful design,” shares Jean Cooney, director of Times Square Arts. “But even more perfect is that pairing the Limbo chairs and Martin’s walking path means we can offer multiple access points for the public to experience this project. A visitor can find their meditative moment by navigating Martin’s pathways or seated in comfort at the edges, taking it all in.”
Free and open to the public throughout its run on Broadway plaza, The Path: A Meditation of Lines aims to leave an impression long after it disappears. After the installation closes, Shantell Martin will sign one of Heller’s Limbo chairs, which will be raffled off to benefit Be Original Americas, a nonprofit that spotlights the value of original craftsmanship.
Sketch of the pavement painting by Shantell Martin.
Heller’s Limbo chair in Black. Photography courtesy of Heller.
Heller’s Gehry Left Twist Cube side tables. Photography courtesy of Heller.
The walking maze invites a sense of play in the heart of Manhattan. Photography by Michael Hull Photo; courtesy of Times Square Arts.
“I drew all of these lines for you,” Martin shares in an audio clip for the piece. Text throughout the work invites introspection. Photography by Michael Hull Photo; courtesy of Times Square Arts.