Harlem's 'Aunties' Sculptures Honor Women Leaders and Caretakers

New Public Art Installation in Harlem

• 🎨 A new collection of hand-painted wooden sculptures, titled "Aunties," has been installed in Harlem at the intersection of 124th Street and Lennox Avenue.
• 💡 The artist, Fiji St. Louis, describes the vibrant display as a colorful honor to the female leaders, builders, caretakers, and change-makers within the community.

Artist's Inspiration and Vision

• 💖 St. Louis, a Harlem resident, aimed to create art that reflects the people of the neighborhood, celebrating the "aunties" – community activists, entrepreneurs, grandmothers, and cousins.
• 🧩 The sculptures are designed to represent the extended families many people grew up with, fostering a sense of connection and recognition.
• 🎭 The faces of the sculptures are intentionally left without features to allow a broader range of people to see themselves in the abstract form, inspired by the artist's work on her own family tree.

Design and Display Details

• 📏 The 6 and 1/2 foot tall sculptures are a collaboration with the city's Department of Transportation.
• 📸 Fiji St. Louis intentionally left space between the "Aunties" to encourage visitors to take pictures with the art.
• ⏳ The "Aunties" collection will be on display in Harlem through April of next year, with other works by the artist also featured in St. Nicholas Park.