Google commissioned Judy Chicago to create a major public artwork for the renovation of Chicago's historic Thompson Center, involving a terrazzo floor and a 17-story glass elevator shaft. The artist and her husband, Donald Woodman, began design work in anticipation of a 2027 completion date.
According to Chicago's account, the process was plagued by problems from the start, including a lack of a formal contract, unpaid travel, missing architectural drawings, and technical challenges with materials. Communication broke down, with Google imposing a moratorium on direct contact and later presenting a contract that severely limited the artist's creative control, leading to the project's cancellation. This incident highlights the fraught relationship between corporate patrons and artists, raising questions about power dynamics, respect for artistic vision, and the practical realities of executing large-scale public art, even with a tech giant known for its cultural initiatives.