Seven Fine Arts students are collaborating with the Union Square Partnership and the design collective Scale Rule to develop a public artwork, proposed for Union Square in spring 2026. Bob Fisch—philanthropist, retail entrepreneur, motivational author, and FIT Foundation board member—generously donated $1,500 to each of the students for their participation in the project and is the lead donor for the fabrication of the piece.
Fisch, who lives in the Union Square neighborhood, was instrumental in bringing to the area the 2025 installation “Love Continuum” by Yoni Alter. Fisch also facilitated the connection with Troy Richards, dean of the School of Art and Design, for the FIT students to collaborate with Scale Rule on the next installation, marking the first time the college has been engaged in a public art project in Union Square.
The students—Noa Doron, Cianna Gibson, Jacqueline Lafayette, Samuel Leone, Michelle Bing Lin, Brenna Mahoney, and Ryan Michael—worked collaboratively to develop a conceptual design that draws inspiration from a classic children’s toy. The nostalgic memory will come to life in Union Square and serve as a symbol for adults and children to connect to a fond memory.
“You guys are the leaders and catalysts for the future, and I hope this unique partnership can continue,” Fisch told the students at an event honoring their participation. “What you’re doing now will be something that maybe we can do for years, these new sculptures. For me, it’s first about the students, second about FIT, and third about Union Square. This is about making Union Square even more of a destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike who can be inspired by this iconic location and beautiful public art.”
“Come 2026, we are excited to unveil more details on this joyful, large-scale interactive installation,” said Tali Cantor, Union Square Partnership’s director of planning. “It’s been such a wonderful experience, both working with and learning from these incredible FIT Fine Arts students, and fantastic collaborating with Scale Rule as they bring this vision to life. The generous support from our neighbor Bob Fisch has made this project possible, and we’re so grateful for his commitment to the arts and the Union Square community. Our hope is that this playful piece will tap into core childhood memories, reimagining a nostalgic toy with a Union Square twist.”
The students—all Fine Arts seniors—described the experience as transformative and their first opportunity to take part in a project like this.
“Working on something that has the potential to be on public display in Union Square in New York City is super exciting and an amazing opportunity for all of us and something that was really fun for me,” said Lafayette.
“This has been the best opportunity that I’ve been given at FIT and will be a really good transition into a career after school,” said Doron. “It’s actually given me the confidence to pursue being a professional artist. Being able to be a part of a project where I was working with engineers and a fabrication company and I was creating a proposal and being able to show the product and how it’s being shown in Union Square.”
“As artists, particularly at FIT where we work in an interdisciplinary way for the entirety of the four years, it can be a little daunting to figure out what you want your practice to look like and to pare it down as fine artists,” said Michael. “A collaborative project at this scale—not just with our friends and students but with the other firms—shows you that it’s not always studio-focused and that you can work with the public and work outside of the conventions of what a traditional artist would do.”
“Looking at everything through a closer lens, we kind of know we are in tune,” said Gibson. “It was really fun to see everyone’s interpretations of what we wanted to make. When given the opportunity we can fulfill but we can also go beyond. That’s been fulfilling for me.”
“This has been a really great learning experience,” said Leone. “Working with major design firms and learning about professional practices has helped us think about this. I think it will be great seeing our work come together.”
Carla Edwards, the team’s faculty advisor and an assistant professor of Fine Arts, said: “The project has created a real opening in terms of my teaching and also created this challenge for me as an educator. It’s been an exciting opening within our existing curriculum to work so closely with students and to really dig into the concept, theory, and overall function of public art in New York City.”