PHILADELPHIA – Building on the success of last year’s Euphonic & Chromatic Drift, Amtrak continues to enrich the public spaces of William H. Gray III 30th Street Station with its celebrated Art at Amtrak program. This time, in collaboration with Brandywine Realty Trust, Amtrak has unveiled Flourish, a captivating site-specific art installation by Philadelphia artist Roxana Azar. Flourish graces the Cira Skybridge, the pedestrian walkway connecting the Cira Centre office building directly to the bustling Gray 30th Street Station. Adding another layer of artistic engagement, a complementary piece from Flourish will also be displayed within the station itself, further immersing visitors in art as they navigate this vital transportation hub.
“The Art at Amtrak program is dedicated to bringing unexpected moments of beauty and artistic interaction into public spaces, and Flourish at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Train Station is a perfect example of this vision,” stated Sharon Tepper, Director of Art at Amtrak. “By spotlighting a talented local artist like Roxana Azar, we are transforming the Cira Skybridge into an inspiring environment, enhancing the daily experience for commuters, residents, and employees who pass through this important connector. We aim to stimulate thought and emotion through this vibrant visual experience, right here at 30th Street Train Station.”
This latest art installation at Gray 30th Street Station follows a series of popular free public performances by PHILADANCO! this past spring, also presented by Art at Amtrak. These performances brought dance and movement into the station, further demonstrating Amtrak’s commitment to integrating art into the fabric of the 30th Street Train Station experience.
As Amtrak’s third busiest station nationwide, Gray 30th Street Station is a major transportation artery, serving over 4 million Amtrak passengers and more than 12 million SEPTA and NJ TRANSIT commuters annually. On a typical weekday, the station complex welcomes over 100,000 individuals. Cira Centre and Gray 30th Street Station together form a gateway to Schuylkill Yards, a significant $3.5 billion development and innovation hub master-planned by Brandywine in partnership with Drexel University. This strategic location underscores the station’s role not just as a transit point, but as a central node in a rapidly evolving urban landscape.
“Brandywine has been a proud partner with Amtrak since the inception of Cira Centre nearly two decades ago. We are delighted to once again join forces to present a dynamic art experience for our building occupants and the many visitors to 30th Street Train Station,” said Jeff DeVuono, Executive Vice President and Senior Managing Director at Brandywine. “This installation truly captures the dynamic energy and progress of the Schuylkill Yards neighborhood, one of the nation’s most exciting master-planned developments, and its location adjacent to the historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Station is a key element of its vibrancy.”
The Flourish art installation is set to officially open in September. This initiative complements Amtrak’s ongoing large-scale restoration and renovation project at Gray 30th Street Station, aimed at modernizing and enhancing this historic transportation landmark for future generations. These investments in both art and infrastructure highlight Amtrak’s dedication to improving the overall experience at 30th Street Train Station.
🎨 The Art of Flourish:
Roxana Azar’s artistic concept for Flourish is inspired by the greenhouse environment, a space designed to nurture and sustain botanical transplants as they adapt to new surroundings. Azar translates this idea into her art by creating two digital compositions, built in layers from photographs of plants sourced from greenhouses across the country. Through digital manipulation, bold color palettes, and simplified forms, Azar abstracts these photographs into playful and engaging compositions.
Her choice of botanical themes for the Cira Skybridge, a structure reminiscent of a glasshouse or greenhouse, is deliberate. Azar seeks to infuse the space with the vitality of a flourishing, verdant environment, reflecting the constant movement and flow of people from diverse locations through 30th Street Train Station. The artwork creates a dynamic visual experience, playing with color-shifting shadows, transparency, and reflections, offering a multi-sensory encounter for viewers as they traverse the Skybridge.
Azar’s design also draws a parallel between the way plants transport water and nutrients from roots to leaves and the role of transportation in enabling cities and communities to thrive and expand. This connection underscores 30th Street Train Station’s function as a vital artery, facilitating growth and connection within Philadelphia and beyond.
🖌️ About the Artist: Roxana Azar
Roxana Azar is a distinguished Philadelphia-based artist known for their innovative work in light art, digital compositions, and dichroic plexiglass sculpture. Azar’s diverse portfolio encompasses holographic vases, mobiles, furniture, and floral arrangements, often incorporating imagery of collaged greenhouses and gardens. Their work, now featured prominently at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Train Station, reflects a unique artistic vision that bridges nature, technology, and urban spaces.
