Project

New York Workspaces

Microsoft engaged The Lumiere Group to advise on art selection and installation for three offices in New York City, culminating in the installation of nearly 60 two-dimensional artworks as well as a multi-part commissioned textile wall artwork. Team members balanced individual client goals and aesthetic preferences with the unique demands of each project, including expedited timelines and travel limitations brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Details

Location:
New York, NY
Project Type:
Artwork Acquisition & Textile Commission
Client:
Microsoft Corporation
Services Provided:
Collections Stewardship, Curatorial Guidance, Project Management and Logistics

Highlights

  • Worked with client, design, and construction stakeholders to arrange building access for professional art handlers, place artwork, and supervise real-time installation using video conferencing during early phases of the Covid-19 lockdown  

 

  • Oversaw artwork installation in an active and secure building used by Microsoft and the United Nations, making sure that artwork selection reflected the broad range of perspectives and cultures present at that location

 

  • Recommended the commission of New York based textile artist Liz Collins and managed design and installation processes 

Overview

Working closely with multiple end-user groups of Microsoft employees, The Lumiere Group curated nearly 60 two-dimensional artworks for three separate spaces in New York City. Drawing upon existing relationships with galleries based in New York and beyond, we presented artworks which met various aesthetic preferences and satisfied the mission of the Microsoft Art Collection, which is to support the careers of globally diverse contemporary artists.   

Our team collaborated with construction project teams to select appropriate art locations, ensuring that the artworks would be appreciated by employees, clients, and guests alike. Three diverse, high-profile projects demanded seamless organization and oversight, as we simultaneously transported artwork from local offices, shipped from Microsoft’s art collection storage in Washington State, acquired from galleries across the country, and managed a prominent commission. The artworks on display in these three offices are globally minded, sophisticated, and add a sense of creativity to the spaces.  

""It's been a pleasure working with the Lumiere group on a couple of different acquisitions of my work. I've always felt supported by their seamless commissioning process, transparency, follow through, and easy communication. Everyone on the team is passionate about art and dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for people, and it shows." "
- Katy Stone, Artist
  • 1/3: Abanico by Carlos-Rosales Silva
  • 2/3: Matthew Kirk's Waking Up to a Memory
  • 3/3: Namwon Choi's Shape of Distance (Octagon)

Next Project:

U.S. Bank Center Art Collection Assessment

Seattle, WA | Collection Inventory, Documentation & Valuation

The EQ Office team in Seattle contracted The Lumiere Group to assess U.S. Bank Center’s existing art collection by providing comprehensive condition reports and valuation research to inform the development of the collection.

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