Ceruzzi Properties has unveiled a 30-foot mural at The Centrale, a 71-story residential skyscraper at 138 East 50th Street in Midtown East. From Scandinavian painter Tony “Rubin” Sjöman, the mural stands above the building’s second-floor terrace and is an abstract interpretation of the city skyline surrounding East 50th Street.
On one side of the mural, a tall, rounded column rises to the top, reminiscent of the art deco crown atop Christian de Portzamparc’s One57 at 157 West 57th Street, one of Sjöman’s favorite buildings. On the other, a pale circle sits atop a sloped rectangle, meant to represent the sun rising over the buildings along 50th Street.
“The mural at The Centrale showcases colors that highlight a combination of two of my biggest inspirations: the dark Nordic landscape and the hectic cityscape,” said Sjöman. “This has been one of my favorite locations to paint because it is very unique, and perfectly showcases the juxtaposition between old and new.”
View of Tony Sjoman’s latest mural at The Centrale – Photo by Jakob Dahlin
View of The Centrale at 130 East 50th Street – Photo by Jakob Dahlin
With roots in Finland and Sweden, Sjöman’s work is often inspired by classic Finnish designers, the brutalist architecture of the town where he grew up, and the work of architects including Alvar Aalto and Eero Saarinen. Sjöman works entirely freehand, using neither stencils nor tape to create perfectly straight lines and proportional circles. He credits the Finnish concept of “sisu,” a combination of perseverance and patience.
“Tony presented us with many sketches, all within a similar palette, but this one particular design resonated with the whole team, and it turned out to be his favorite as well,” said Gabrielle Healey, vice president of marketing and sales at Ceruzzi. “The flow of the geometric design is eye-catching and three-dimensional in nature. The left side of the image almost resembles The Centrale itself, and I think this is something that we all recognized and valued.”
The 800-foot-tall building is designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli and SLCE and contains 124 condominiums. Ceruzzi Properties partnered with Champalimaud Design to deliver a suite of amenity spaces that include the “Club Room” lounge with double-height ceilings and a large fireplace, a conference room, and private dining area with a catering kitchen. Outdoor amenity areas include the pet-friendly Garden Terrace, an additional outdoor terrace for humans only, a fitness center operated by The Wright Fit, a 75-foot-long lap pool, and an in-house spa. Douglas Elliman Development Marketing is handing marketing and sales.
Ceruzzi Properties tapped LX Collection to coordinate Sjöman’s mural, which is now completed.
The 75-foot lap pool within The Centrale – The Seventh Art
The Club Room (left) and terrace level at The Centrale – The Seventh Art
Porte Cochere at The Centrale Pedestrian entrance at The Centrale – The Seventh Art
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the mural is nice and this is a very handsome building. i never understood what all the fuss was about. the neighbors could have gotten a bland glass box, so they should be thankful they got a sleek looker.