The Frick Collection has reopened after a $220 million, five-year renovation, featuring a new installation called "Porcelain Garden" by Ukrainian-born artist Vladimir Kanevsky. The display includes over 30 handcrafted porcelain floral pieces, such as a lemon tree, lilies of the valley, and a wild artichoke, placed alongside masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Goya, and Bellini. Kanevsky, a 74-year-old Jewish-Ukrainian émigré who moved to New York in 1989, originally trained as an architect and turned to porcelain as a side project, which unexpectedly became his career. All the flowers at the Frick have been sold, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $500,000, though his secondary market remains minimal.
This story matters because it highlights the intersection of fine art and decorative craft within a major institutional context, elevating a living artist's work to the level of historical masters. Kanevsky's success challenges traditional hierarchies in the art world, where porcelain is often dismissed as mere decoration. His background as an immigrant and his desire to return to sculpture and architecture add a layer of personal narrative to the broader conversation about artistic reinvention and market dynamics. The installation also underscores the Frick's commitment to integrating contemporary commissions with its permanent collection, setting a precedent for how museums can engage living artists in historic settings.