The World Trade Center Tapestry
| Company type | Artwork |
|---|---|
| Industry | Textile art |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Joan Miró, Josep Royo |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Tapestry |
The World Trade Center Tapestry was an expansive tapestry crafted by artists Joan Miró and Josep Royo, which adorned the lobby of 2 World Trade Center (South Tower) in New York City from 1974 until it was lost in the 2001 collapse of the World Trade Center.
History and description
The idea for Miró to create a tapestry for the World Trade Center originated from Saul Wenegrat, who served as the director of the art program at the Port Authority of New York. Although initially hesitant because he lacked experience with tapestry-making, Miró acquired the necessary skills from Josep Royo after completing a tapestry as a gesture of gratitude for his daughter's recovery at a Spanish hospital. This collaboration led to several notable tapestries, including the piece for the World Trade Center, Woman for the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and another for the Fundació Joan Miró.
The tapestry displayed an abstract composition characterized by vivid sections of red, green, blue, and yellow, highlighted with black details set against a light brown backdrop. Constructed from wool and hemp fibers, it measured and had a weight of 4 tons. Finished in 1973, the piece was first shown at Paris's Grand Palais prior to its installation in New York City the following year.
This significant artwork was destroyed during the events of the September 11 attacks in 2001.