Group of Four Trees, Monumental sculpture in Financial District, Manhattan, US
Group of Four Trees is a monumental sculpture in the Financial District made of modern materials including epoxy resins, aluminium, and steel. Its four vertical structures are connected by horizontal planes at different levels, with the white composition outlined in black, creating a complex geometric form.
David Rockefeller commissioned this work in 1969 for the Chase Manhattan Bank headquarters, representing Jean Dubuffet's first large-scale sculpture project. The commission opened doors for contemporary art to play a role in reshaping public spaces within the financial district.
The sculpture interprets trees through geometric shapes and has become a notable part of the public art landscape in the Financial District. Visitors encounter it directly in the street-level environment where it shapes how people move through and perceive the neighborhood.
The sculpture is located at the intersection of William and Pine Streets where you can walk around it to examine its structure from different angles. Plan to spend time circling the work to appreciate how its geometry changes depending on your viewing position.
The sculpture was assembled on site from more than a dozen separate pieces shipped from France, with Jean Dubuffet and five assistants working together to complete the installation. This assembly approach allowed the artist to create an enormous work that fits into a tight urban corner.
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