The Facts
On June 22, 2026, The Helis Foundation announced the latest edition of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition (PCSE) in downtown New Orleans, featuring works by British artist Julian Opie. The exhibition, recognized as the leading rotating public sculpture show in the American South, extends along Poydras Street from Convention Center Boulevard to North Galvez Street. Among 13 installations currently on view, Opie presents two works from his 2023 Busan Walkers series: "Yellow phone." and "Turquoise hair." Both are rendered in high-gloss auto paint on aluminum, depicting figures in motion originally photographed on the Busan seafront, then translated into drawings and scaled into twenty statues. The sculptures explore a tension between physical volume and two-dimensionality, with "Yellow phone." showing a man walking while looking at his phone, and "Turquoise hair." featuring a young woman with an extravagant posture, her arm merging with her hair.
The Signal
For collectors and curators, Opie's inclusion in PCSE signals the continued institutional embrace of his signature blend of digital and sculptural aesthetics, a style that has made him a fixture in public art globally. The Busan Walkers series, originally conceived for a Korean context, now finds resonance in New Orleans' urban landscape, highlighting how Opie's work translates across cultures. The exhibition reinforces the Helis Foundation's strategy of rotating high-profile contemporary works into the public realm, offering a free, accessible platform that can elevate an artist's visibility beyond the gallery system. For Opie, whose market has seen steady demand for his figurative works, this placement may further solidify his standing among collectors of public and private sculpture.
- Artists: Julian Opie
- Locations: New Orleans
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
