New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy today announced that one of the Empire State Plaza’s most popular outdoor sculptures, George Sugarman’s Trio, will return to the Plaza on Friday, March 24, after undergoing critical conservation treatment.

“Since the 1970s, art-loving visitors of all ages have been fascinated with the curves and angles of Sugarman’s big, yellow sculpture Trio on the Empire State Plaza,” Commissioner Moy said. “Through our conservation efforts, OGS is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to ensure that future generations will be able to view and enjoy Trio and all the works in the Empire State Plaza Art Collection.”

The sculpture Trio represents Sugarman’s “seed form” concept: the idea that sculpture begins with a single shape that evolves and changes throughout the work.

Subject to more than 40 years of wear and tear and exposure to the elements, Trio, 1969-71, was removed from the Plaza approximately a year ago for treatment and conservation meant to extend the work’s life and return it to its original splendor.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 24, Trio will be reinstalled at a new location on the south end of the Empire State Plaza directly in front of Agency Building 1. The reinstallation is expected to take several hours, during which the sculpture will be lifted and set down by riggers and attached to a concrete base for its permanent placement.

Trio is one of three masterworks from the Empire State Plaza Art Collection expected to be returned to the Plaza over the next few months following conservation treatment by the women-led, Hudson Valley-based Monumenta Art Conservation and Finishing, LLC.

One of New York State’s greatest public art treasures, the Empire State Plaza Art Collection belongs to the people of New York State and is a remarkable example of American Modern Art.

For more information about the art collection, visit https://empirestateplaza.ny.gov/art.