Roberto Lugo has unveiled a monumental 20ft-tall urn titled *Capicú de Cariño (I Heard It Both Ways)* (2026) in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park, as part of his exhibition *Alfarero del Barrio (Village Potter)* commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy. The urn features portraits of prominent Puerto Rican figures including Bad Bunny, Sonia Sotomayor, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Roberto Clemente, and the artist’s own parents, Gilberto and Maribel Lugo. The installation also includes a 15ft-tall orange fire hydrant sculpture, *Para Los Días Caliente (This Is For The Hot Ones)* (2026), and several planters and domino tables, all designed to invite public interaction and community engagement.
The exhibition matters because it centers Puerto Rican cultural identity and resilience in a highly visible public space, using Lugo’s signature blend of ceramic artistry, graffiti, and hip-hop influences. By honoring both famous and personal figures, Lugo challenges traditional monument-making and emphasizes community, empathy, and openness. The interactive elements—such as a walk-through urn and a hydrant that invites tagging—encourage direct public participation, making the artwork a living part of the park’s social fabric.