USP Welcomes Alexander Klingspor's "N.Y.C Legend" to Union Square

A STORY ABOUT MYTHOLOGY, SURVIVAL AND RESILIENCE

NEW YORK (October 17, 2023) — An urban myth came to life in Union Square Park today with the unveiling of public art installation, “N.Y.C Legend.” The bronze sculpture by Swedish artist Alexander Klingspor, in collaboration with Mollbrinks Gallery, features a life-sized alligator on the back of a manhole cover lid, drawing on the century-old myth of sewer alligators inhabiting the underbelly of New York City. The installation will be on display from October 2023 to June 2024.

Originating a century ago, the legend suggests that New Yorkers once abandoned baby alligators—imported as pets from Louisiana and Florida—in the sewers when they became too large to manage. Over time, this story has evolved into tales of subterranean monsters, capturing the city’s imagination.

Inspired by the resilience of both alligators and New Yorkers, "NYC Legend" merges ancient mythological symbolism with modern urban folklore. The sculpture pays tribute to New York City’s enduring capacity to adapt and survive, a quality embodied by the alligator—a creature revered across many ancient cultures for its armor of scales and ability to regrow limbs. 

“Stories are the very backbone of human civilization giving shape to our shared consciousness through sculptures, paintings, and architecture,” says Klingspor. “This piece is a testament to our timeless drive to find icons in nature, and to the bridge that myth builds between the ancient and modern that still echoes today.”

Presented in partnership with New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and Union Square Partnership, and funded by Swedish Mollbrinks Gallery, the sculpture was cast by Perseo Foundry in Switzerland in, which is known for top-quality materials and advanced casting techniques, such as Lost Wax and Vacuum. 

USQ CELEBRATES COMMUNITY + CULTURE THROUGH PUBLIC ART

“Alexander Klingspor's striking bronze sculpture, “NYC Legend,” joins the impressive collection of iconic public sculptures proudly on display throughout New York City. Its placement in Union Square, one of Manhattan's most prominent and bustling locations, for a period of eight months allows for widespread and meaningful engagement with the public,” said Joseph Douek, a member of the NYC Planning Commission. “We take great pride in showcasing Klingspor's masterpiece and are hopeful for its permanent installation following the exhibition period.”

“Union Square is a local destination where New Yorkers celebrate community, culture and spirited expression, as well as a global destination for artists from around the world to share their public works for all to enjoy in New York City," said Julie Stein, Executive Director, Union Square Partnership. “We look forward to sharing this legendary work of art with the Union Square community and encourage all city visitors to come to Union Square to see this magnificent sculpture for themselves."

With a rich history rooted in the power of public expression, Union Square Park has presented renowned works of public art in recent years, from New York City artist MIDABI’s “The Only Other” to street murals by Spanish artist Vanesa Álvarez and Sunset Park artist Ji Yong Kim to the critically-acclaimed Confront Art’s SEEINJUSTICE series, presented in the fall of 2021. The series featured three 12 foot bronze sculptures of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Congressman John Lewis by Chris Carnabuci. 

“This sculpture is a beautiful representation of our enduring resilience as New Yorkers, and embodies one of the most famous urban legends about our city," said Anthony Perez, New York City Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner. "Public art installations like this are one of the many ways we use our public parks to celebrate the stories and spirit that make our city so unique. I’m so excited to see this sculpture take its place in iconic Union Square Park, where I'm sure it will surprise and delight both New Yorkers and visitors.”

A quick jaunt uptown from Union Square, Thompson Central Park New York is the official host hotel of Alexander Klingspor’s highly-anticipated public art exhibition. In celebration of the artwork, Thompson Central Park will introduce an intimate look behind Klingspor’s creative process to bring his sculpture NYC Legend to life. The display, open through November, will be the debut work exhibited within the hotel’s newly-unveiled ground floor atrium, inviting hotel guests and visitors to learn more about New York’s City’s most intriguing urban legend, as well as Klingspor’s tactical artistic process. In celebration of the partnership, Thompson Central Park is offering friends and supporters of NYC Legend a preferred rate when booking at the hotel by using code GATOR.

“At Thompson Central Park, we thrive on bringing local culture and storytelling to life, and what could be more intriguing than one of New York City’s most curious urban legends?,” said Justin Kellerman, Area Vice President & General Manager, Thompson Central Park New York. “We were drawn to Alexander Klingspor’s fresh interpretation of New York folklore, and we look forward to welcoming our hotel guests to explore the conversation and his process as Thompson Central Park’s first exhibition in the atrium, where we hope to have many more thought-provoking installations from globally renowned and emerging artists alike, in the years to come.”

Rika Lisslö, Elizabeth Masella (Senior Public Arts Coordinator, NYC Parks), Julie Stein (Executive Director, Union Square Partnership) pictured with Queen Silvia of Sweden and Alexander Klingspor

Check out N.Y.C Legend in the news:

(The New York Times) Why a Sculptor Was Drawn to Sewer Alligators

(CNN Travel) New York unveils statue commemorating alligator sewer myth

(USA Today) Legend of NYC sewer alligators gets memorialized in new Manhattan sculpture

(Untapped NY) NEW SEWER ALLIGATOR ART IN UNION SQUARE IS INSPIRED BY NYC MYTH

(PIX 11) Sewer alligator statue unveiled in Union Square

(ABC 7) Sculpture of alligator in NYC sewers installed in Union Square

N.Y.C Legend will be on display in Triangle Plaza of Union Square Park until October 2024.