The New York City AIDS Memorial is unveiling a new public commission, "Eternal Flame for Scott Burton" (2026), by American sculptor Oscar Tuazon, on June 20 at St. Vincent's Triangle in Manhattan's West Village. The work reimagines Burton's landmark 1994 installation for the Sheepshead Bay fishing piers in Brooklyn, which was decommissioned in 2022 after damage from Superstorm Sandy. Tuazon used salvaged elements from the original piece, including red Atlantic granite and terrazzo, to create a functional circular bench with a light beam, honoring Burton's fusion of sculpture, design, and civic infrastructure.
This commission matters because it marks the tenth anniversary of the AIDS Memorial and actively preserves the legacy of Scott Burton, a influential artist who died of AIDS-related illness in 1989. By restoring and transforming Burton's work, the memorial demonstrates that commemoration is an ongoing, living process, ensuring that the cultural contributions of those lost to the AIDS crisis remain vibrant and relevant. The project underscores the power of public art to connect generations and sustain memory through creative renewal, rather than static monumentality.