The Chairs

Placemaking, Public Art

/ 2020
A girl does a backbend underneath a sculptural chair public art installation

The Chairs
2020
Painted steel, epoxy pavement coating
Location: Washington, DC

This permanent installation at the Anacostia Public Library plaza reimagines common seating as a form of expression, stretching chairs and benches into surreal and whimsical shapes that activate a sense of play. Each of the eight sculptural seats encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.

The Chairs sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC. Each of the eight custom chairs and benches encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.
Rainbow Chair, part of The Chairs, a sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC.
The Chairs sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC. Each of the eight custom chairs and benches encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.
Yoga Chair. A girl does a backbend below a sculptural chair, part of The Chairs, a sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC.
A boy plays on a curved sculptural bench, part of The Chairs, a sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC.
The Chairs sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC. Each of the eight custom chairs and benches encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.
The Chairs sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC. Each of the eight custom chairs and benches encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.
Two men on Seesaw Bench, part of The Chairs, a sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC.
The Chairs sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC. Each of the eight custom chairs and benches encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.
Frown Bench, a curved bench with a woman lying on it, part of The Chairs, a sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC.
Detail of Friends Chairs two interlocking chairs sculptural seating playable art public art installation in Washington DC.
Friends Chairs two interlocking chairs sculptural seating playable art public art installation in Washington DC.
Light and shadows in public art — detail of Frown Bench and Smile Bench
Pyramid Chair, a stacked optical illusion art chair. The Chairs sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC. Each of the eight custom chairs and benches encourages interaction and offers unique opportunities for play and social engagement.
Skewed Chairs two optical illustion chairs sculptural seating playable art public art installation in Washington DC.
Yoga Chair and Skewed Chairs, optical illusion public art chairs
Pyramid Chair, part of The Chairs, a sculptural seating public art installation in Washington DC.
the artist sitting on Friends Chairs during fabrication
Yoga Chair being fabricated
Rainbow Chair being fabricated
Bruce Willen and Tim Scofield

Project team: Bruce Willen, Sarah Templin, Katryna Carter, Briony Hynson, Tim Scofield
Collaborators: the Neighborhood Design Center, Tim Scofield Studio, Graham Projects
Commissioning Agencies: D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities, D.C. Office of Planning

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