New 80-Foot Sculpture Comes To Jersey City's Newport Waterfront

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A new public art installation will be towering 80-feet tall in Jersey City's Newport waterfront, facing Manhattan.

The LeFrak and Simon families commissioned international artist Jaume Plensa for the sculpture titled "Water’s Soul." LeFrak and Simon are the chief developers of Newport.

The sculpture is Plensa’s second major, permanent installation in the New York metropolitan area, following the 2018 installment of "Voices" at 30 Hudson Yards. "Water's Soul" is Plensa's tallest work yet. A dedication of "Water’s Soul" will be held in the third week of October 2021, after which the landscaped walkway will open for year-round public access. The pier’s walkway was designed by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects and connects to Newport’s existing mile-long Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.

“It is my wish for Water’s Soul to become an icon for Newport and a landmark that visually connects it with New York City across the Hudson River,” said Jaume Plensa. “Just as Water’s Soul acts to unite the City of Jersey City and New York City, we are reminded that water is the great public space that unites and embraces communities as well as people around the world.”