Woody De Othello's first major solo public exhibition in New York, titled "Guardian Spirit," has opened at Brooklyn Bridge Park, presented by Public Art Fund. The exhibition features monumental redwood totems standing 20 to 22 feet tall, carved with chainsaws and grinders, alongside bronze sculptures created between 2021 and 2025. The works explore themes of ritual, spirituality, and the elemental forces of wind and water, drawing inspiration from nkisi, ritual objects from Western and Central Africa. The exhibition runs from May 5, 2026, to March 8, 2027, with sculptures installed at Pier 1 and the Manhattan Bridge View.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant milestone for Woody De Othello, bringing his practice into the public realm on a monumental scale in New York City for the first time. By integrating his sculptures into the landscape of Brooklyn Bridge Park, Othello invites a broad public audience to engage with themes of consciousness, memory, and spiritual connection through everyday objects. The work also highlights the growing recognition of contemporary artists who draw on African diasporic traditions, and the role of Public Art Fund in supporting ambitious public art projects that challenge and inspire.