Artists for Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Named
September 5th, 2015 / Omaha, NE
Metal Curtain Wall by Rob Ley
Two artists will receive commissions via “1% for Art” state program
Multi-layered painting by Suzy Taekyung Kim
Omaha, NE – Artists Rob Ley and Suzy Taekyung Kim have been selected to commission the artwork for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, for which HDR is providing professional services including architecture, engineering, programming, concept development, graphic design and healthcare consulting. Kiewit is the construction manager/general contractor.
Ley, who is based in Los Angeles, and Kim, who is based in Brooklyn, N.Y., were chosen by the project’s 1% for Art committee, which reviewed more than 400 applications over a period of eight months. The committee consisted of art professionals and representatives from the cancer center, as well as cancer patients and patient services.
“I am extremely honored to have been chosen to create one of the pieces of art for this project,” said Ley. “Art can have such an important role in the healing process, and I believe the piece I will be creating will be an integral part of the healing environment prevalent throughout the cancer center.”
Ley will receive a $175,000 commission to create a large-scale installation—a metal curtain wall—for the drop-off area of the center. The organic structure of Ley’s work changes the nature of the metal, serving as a metaphor for care and overcoming disease. The slightly reflective curves of the curtain will capture the light, color and movement of the area around it.
“It is an honor for me to be part of this life changing project,” said Kim. “It is my sincere hope that what I create becomes a real touchstone for healing the moment patients enter the facility. I want my work to be a soothing piece that gives both patients and their families a feeling of comfort and optimism.”
Kim will receive a $125,000 commission to create a large-scale painting for the lobby. The painting will be approximately 12 feet high by 16 feet wide and will consist of eight customized wood panels that create one large surface. Kim uses color to create weaved images of foliage and explosions, and accumulates multiple layers of diluted paint, stains, acrylic paint, mica and gold leaf.
The artwork created for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is the largest 1% for Art project since the program started in 1978. About $360,000 has been allocated by the program for public art in the facility. The remaining $50,000 will be set aside as matching funds for a second exterior public art site.
In addition to the 1% for Art projects, the cancer center will house a healing arts collection and exhibition space. The previously announced Leslie’s Healing Garden will be a part of that collection, named after one of the daughters of Marshall and Mona Faith, who passed away from pediatric cancer more than 60 years ago.
“We want to make sure healing goes beyond what our patients receive medically,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “These two large works of art will instantly create an atmosphere of healing for them and play a major role in the healing artistic tapestry we’re creating in this state-of-the art facility.”
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