Target (Minneapolis) has transformed its Times Square billboards into an artistic homage to New York, with the unveiling of larger-than-life commissioned works from four emerging artists. The billboards, which will remain on display through the end of October, will take on a second life after their run on 42nd Street, when the vinyl is restyled into 1,600 limited-edition, affordable tote bags, based on a design conceived for Target by fashion icon Anna Sui.
Target said four New York-based artists — Laurie Rosenwald, Michael Anderson, Josh Goldstein, and Charles Wilkin — were chosen in partnership with New York-based ad agency, Mother, to create original art pieces inspired by both New York City and the Target “bullseye” in one of the most trafficked public areas in the world.
Rosenwald created two collages, one starring a cheery face and the other featuring pop typography including words like “SEE” and “NYC”; Anderson borrows from the bold lines and colors of street posters and depicts a red, white and round Statue of Liberty and Big Apple; Goldstein intersects images of New York signs from bodegas and Coney Island to create a giant red Bullseye; and Wilkin’s piece is a collage of New York imagery, including a yellow taxi and a subway stop.
“As a supporter of the arts, Target is thrilled to give emerging artists the most visible canvas in the world to display their work,” says Michael Francis, Target’s executive vp and chief marketing officer. “We look forward to extending the artworks' reach as the billboards take on second lives as tote bags.”