In 1977, Louise Nevelson (1899–1988) created a unique sculptural environment at the heart of Citicorp Center and Saint Peter’s Church, which she titled, Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Comprising nine substantial white and gold-leaf sculptural elements, and installed onsite by Nevelson herself, this “oasis of silence” is more than a quiet place for reflection. It is an experience, harmoniously contained, yet uncontainable; profoundly and marvelously human.
Remarkable in its ability both to embrace and to transport, Nevelson Chapel provides a quietly dramatic counterpoint to the busyness of city life. And while other Nevelson environments have been disassembled long ago, or are only available in temporary exhibitions, the Chapel remains. This is the artist’s only intact, comprehensive sculptural environment open and accessible to the public in its original permanent setting.
Nearly fifty years on from its creation—a time when cultural history so often falls into disrepair or out of fashion—Nevelson’s masterwork is undergoing conservation and the artist’s original vision is being revitalized. A Nevelson Legacy Council, composed of luminaries in the artist’s world, is bringing attention to the project. An Arts Committee, made up of volunteer art, historic interior, and architectural experts working with an object conservator and a paint conservator, is guiding conservation of the Chapel.
A growing community of donors, including Pace Gallery, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Henry Luce Foundation, the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation, the Robert and Ardis James Foundation, the Lipman Family Foundation, and many committed individuals are “Renewing a Masterwork” and ensuring that the Chapel lives on for the future as Nevelson intended.
