| Eye of Fashion | |
|---|---|
 The sculpture in May 2023 | |
 | |
| Artist | Robert Cronbach |
| Year | 1976 (1976) |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Location | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°44′47.8″N73°59′38.7″W / 40.746611°N 73.994083°W /40.746611; -73.994083 |
Eye of Fashion is an 18 x 10 footbronze sculpture byRobert Cronbach in 1978, installed outside theFashion Institute of Technology's Goodman Center, inManhattan, New York City.[1][2]
An artist and political activist,Robert Cronbach, was hired by theWorks Progress Administration to create public art. His style of art dealt with the working class, social statements, and the relationship between art and landscape. He was known for his art at theSocial Security Building in Washington, D.C., and theUniversity of MinnesotaFrederick R. Weisman Art Museum. Cronbach was also commissioned to create sculptures for theSmithsonian American Art Museum in Washington and theU.N. General Assembly Meditation Room in New York.[3]
In 2017, the beloved sculpture spent approximately a year and a half at a Bronx-based art restoration facility to fix damages. The steel armature had rusted and the gold finish was showing major signs of deterioration. Cronbach had originally intended for the sculpture to oxidize over time but environmental effects had rapidly aged theFIT monument.
The restoration was performed by Wilson Conservation, LLC, a conservation firm owned by FIT alumna, Jackie Wilson. She has overseen many outdoor sculpture restorations in places such as atHerald Square,Madison Square Park,Princeton University, and theNew York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. The restoration process included restoring the armature, cleaning of the exterior, and finishing the sculpture with a protectivepatina.[4]
On September 22, 2018, theEye of Fashion was returned to its home outside the Goodman Center, on the southwest corner of27th Street andSeventh Avenue.[5]
