Souvenirs: New New York Icons

As a contemporary form of commercialized nostalgia, souvenirs are the ultimate cliche in the representation of a city. Pocket-sized, acritical, and cheap, they populate tourist sites all over the world with a patina of innocence.

Producing collective imaginaries made up of lines that follow the profiles of superlative sculptures, buildings, and stories, souvenirs have become the reference points that anchor a particular culture in time, representing (consciously or not) political, cultural, and social values.

Souvenirs: New New York Icons, the second iteration of Storefront’s model show, commissions 59+ objects that redefine New York’s iconic imagery. Inspired by each of the city’s Community Districts, more than 59 artists, architects, and designers have reimagined the referential images that constitute the global perception of the city, proposing new understandings of the urban experience.

Challenging the symbols that have permeated the gift shop, Souvenirs presents critical approaches to the shifting and complex iconography of the city. The exhibition introduces new objects and, with them, new ways to relate to form, matter, affect, representation, and agency.

Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to cast a vote for the object that best represents their visions and values of the city. The top three souvenirs will be presented to the Mayor Bill de Blasio as new icons for New York City.

IIIII Columns

Abruzzo Bodziak Architects
adamo-faiden
Afaina de Jong / AFARAI & Innavisions
Agency—Agency
Al-Hamad Design (Nanu Al-Hamad / Kaeli Streeter)
Alan Ruiz
Ania Jaworska with Lucia Lee

Antonas Office
Architensions
Atelier Van Lieshout
Caroline Woolard
Charlap Hyman & Herrero
Frank Benson
Future Expansion
Hayley Eber
Huy Bui
Ibañez Kim
Jenny Sabin Studio: Jenny E. Sabin, Jingyang Liu Leo
Jerome W Haferd and K Brandt Knapp
Kwong Von Glinow Design Office
Leigha Dennis
Liz Phillips
Local Projects
Lydia Xynogala
Medium
Michael Wang
Michelle Chang
Midnight Commercial
Miguel Robles-Durán (Cohabitation Strategies)
N H D M / Nahyun Hwang + David Eugin Moon
Naomi Fisher
NEMESTUDIO
New Affiliates

Oana Stanescu Family NY
Office III

Office Kovacs
Ogrydziak Prillinger Architects (OPA)
Once–Future Office
ONTOPO
P.R.O. – Peterson Rich Office
Patrick Meagher & Lenka Ilic
QSPACE
​Rafael de Cárdenas / Architecture at Large
SIKI IM
Slash Projects
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
SOFTlab
Sonia Leimer
Studio Christian Wassmann
Studio Meem
Talbot & Yoon
Ultramoderne
WELCOMEPROJECTS
Young & Ayata and iheartblob
ZUS

Souvenirs: New New York Icons features Marmoreal by Max Lamb, made possible through the generous support of Dzek.

Material for this exhibition is kindly provided by Bendheim (glass) and Vycom (plastic). 3D printing is supported by Shapeways.

Storefront’s programming is made possible through general support from Arup; DS+R; F.J. Sciame Construction Co., Inc.; Knippers Helbig; KPF; MADWORKSHOP; ODA; Rockwell Group; Roger Ferris + Partners; Tishman Speyer; the Foundation for Contemporary Arts; The Greenwich Collection Ltd.; the Lily Auchincloss Foundation; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; The Peter T. Joseph Foundation; and by Storefront’s Board of Directors, members, and individual donors.