Monira Al Qadiri's First Sun | NYC

Monira Al Qadiri's First Sun. Central Park. October 2025.

Witness the breathtaking, monumental sculpture First Sun by internationally celebrated Kuwaiti artist Monira Al Qadiri. This iridescent hybrid figure is a must-see public art installation in New York City.

(Beth note: It's just stunning in person. I love it!)

First Sun is a majestic, five-meter-tall painted aluminum sculpture that reimagines Khepri, the ancient Egyptian god of the rising sun (often depicted as a scarab beetle), as a glittering, androgynous contemporary monument. The artist, Monira Al Qadiri, uses this monumental insect to reflect on the modern divide between humans and nature, urging viewers to recognize the divine and essential role of even the most humble creatures. The work's iridescent pigments, derived from automotive paints, connect to Al Qadiri's wider practice exploring "petro-culture," gender fluidity, and ecological interdependence.

Monira Al Qadiri:

🌐 https://www.moniraalqadiri.com/firstsun/

🖼️ https://www.instagram.com/moniraalqadiri
📍Location: Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park (Fifth Avenue at 60th Street)

🗓️ On view September 3, 2025 – August 2, 2026

🔜 Next Location: Lassonde Art Trail, Biidaasige Park, Toronto, ON (Opening September 2026)
Co-Commissioned by:

Public Art Fund, New York: https://www.publicartfund.org/exhibitions/view/monira-al-qadiri-first-sun/

Lassonde Art Trail Foundation, Toronto https://latfoundation.org/about

~ Thank you for liking, commenting, and subscribing. Your support means the world to me.  

~ Want to buy me a coffee to fuel my adventures? I'd appreciate that so much: https://ko-fi.com/farbav  

~ For inquiries or suggestions, email me at youtube@farbav.com

#MoniraAlQadiri #FirstSun #PublicArtFund #CentralPark #NYC #Scarab #ContemporaryArt #Iridescent #Sculpture #ArtInstallation #PetroCulture #nycevents #HybridFigure #NewYorkCity #NYCGallery #manhattan #ArtTok #ArtReel #MustSeeNYC #Exploring #Aesthetic #art #arte #publicart #stunning #beetle  #thingstodoinnyc #thingstodoinnewyork #fyp #fypシ

Видео Monira Al Qadiri's First Sun | NYC канала Beth Frank @farbav