Aperture to Jury Rockefeller Center’s 2021 Edition of The Flag Project

Rockefeller Center invites New Yorkers to submit photographs for a public installation.

Reprising a moving installation of art by New Yorkers for New Yorkers, Rockefeller Center’s The Flag Project invites artists to submit their photos as designs for flags. Eighty-three photographs will be selected and produced as eight-by-five-foot flags installed in an exhibition on display across the Rockefeller Center campus, March 27–April 30, 2021.

The Flag Project was created by the real-estate company Tishman Speyer in an effort to unite New Yorkers and celebrate community, art, and the city during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inaugural edition of The Flag Project received more than one thousand submissions, with members of the public showcasing their work alongside a number of artists and notable New Yorkers who also designed flags for the exhibition, including Marina Abramović, Laurie Anderson, Sanford Biggers, Carmen Herrera, Jenny Holzer, KAWS, Jeff Koons, Shantell Martin, Steve Powers, Faith Ringgold, Christian Siriano, Sarah Sze, and Hank Willis Thomas. The Flag Project is a free outdoor exhibition that is open to the public, does not require tickets, and can be viewed at any time.

This year’s submission directive invites the public to submit photos showcasing the diverse life and energy of New York City. Images can feature faces, objects, or textures of the city, even if the photograph was taken in a studio or somewhere outside of New York. Think of the emblems of New York, its faces, simple objects that reflect something of the city or that is inspired by New York and its spirit. Welcoming participants with a wide range of experience, from professional photographers to undiscovered talents, this year’s call seeks to celebrate the city and inspire our imagination for its future. Tishman Speyer and Aperture established the creative parameters for this year’s project, and winning submissions will be selected by Chris Boot, Executive Director of Aperture. 

Read more about the 2021 edition of The Flag Project and submit your entry through February 26.