FAD News: Sarah Lucas Unveils New Public Sculpture Commission for New Museum Plaza

Key Takeaways

• VENUS VICTORIA opens May 12, 2026 on New Museum plaza
• First of five women‑artist commissions in New Museum’s decade program
• Sculpture features reclining figure atop a giant washing machine
• Curated by Massimiliano Gioni and Madeline Weisburg
• Extends Lucas’s Bunny series, challenging traditional public monuments

Pulse Analysis

The New Museum’s recent expansion, designed by OMA, includes a new outdoor plaza that reflects a broader shift toward integrating large‑scale public art into urban cultural hubs. By dedicating prime real‑estate on the Bowery to a permanent sculpture, the museum not only activates foot traffic but also signals a strategic investment in the city’s visual landscape, a move that other institutions are watching closely as they reimagine the role of outdoor programming.

Sarah Lucas, a British artist known for her irreverent use of everyday objects, continues her exploration of gender, sexuality, and power with VENUS VICTORIA. The work builds on her long‑running “Bunny” series, replacing the traditional pedestal with a massive washing machine and a reclining, exaggerated female form. This playful subversion critiques the historic dominance of male figures in public monuments, turning a domestic appliance into a platform for feminist commentary while retaining her signature humor and distortion.

The sculpture inaugurates a ten‑year, five‑artist commission series focused exclusively on women creators, positioning the New Museum as a leader in addressing gender disparity in public commissions. By pairing high‑profile curators with an all‑artist jury, the museum creates a model that other cultural organizations may emulate, potentially reshaping funding priorities and acquisition strategies across the sector. As the piece remains on view for two years, it offers a sustained platform for dialogue about representation, the evolving function of public art, and the commercial viability of avant‑garde sculpture in a market that increasingly values inclusive narratives.