PS 722 Elmer Polony Mosaic

For decades the New York Public School System has been integrating public artwork into their buildings for the enjoyment of the students and staff. Between 1960 and 1980 the city commissioned New York based mosaic artist Elemer Polony to create works for six of their schools in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. One such work was PS 722 Richard H. Hungerford School’s Abstract Forms in Space (1978). The work was approximately 60″ long and 42″ tall and comprised of 14 panels of marble inlay of various types and colors. The mosaic is currently under the purview of the Public Art for Public Schools unit of the New York City School Construction Authority, which acts as a steward for nearly 2,000 artworks dispersed throughout NYC’s school system.

EverGreene was contracted to assess and salvage the Elmer Polony mosaic at PS 722. Our conservators performed cursory conditions assessments of each panel and documented existing conditions. The panels were given a numbering system and their locations were mapped out to document their assembly order.

The panels were removed by our team between November 21 and December 5, 2023, and relocated to long-term storage on March 1, 2024.