NEW MURAL BRINGS BOLD AND EXCITING ENERGY TO REGO CENTER
Public Welcome on July 31- August 1 To Join Artist
QUEENS, NY, July 22, 2021— Queens-based muralist Rob Anderson is partnering with Alexander’s, Inc. and Vornado Realty Trust to create an expansive mural for the Rego Center shopping plaza in Rego Park, NY.
Rego Center recently welcomed Ikea and At Home to the property, and in conjunction with these new offerings, ownership is renovating the exterior of the center’s south building to include Anderson’s mural at the corner of Queens Blvd. and 63rd Road. The piece will be his largest painting to date covering almost 2,000 square feet.
Visitors to Rego Center and the community at large can observe the artist in action as he paints 30 feet above the ground across the 90-foot wall. Work is underway and the artist expects to unveil the mural in August.
A weekend of interactive community artwork is planned for July 31-August 1, with the public invited to color in Rob’s iconic Kittizen murals each afternoon from 12:30-5pm.
“I want my pieces to be experienced as gifts of optimism and hope. I’ve been told that community and empathy are at the heart of my identity as a person and an artist. Though I am humbled to hear that, I’m just really happy to paint in front of people and offer them a chance to join in,” says Anderson.
The piece will take approximately 300 hours to complete. Abstract shapes, vibrant colors and bold outlines will radiate an energetic, fantastical NYC skyline while a “Spirit of the Metropolis” watches from above.
“Rego Center is the commercial heart of central Queens and draws millions of visitors annually. Rob’s mural speaks to everything that the shopping center strives to be for the communities it serves-a vibrant gathering place where people can work, shop, dine and relax together,” offered General Manager Bob Ausburn. “We are especially excited about Rob’s plan to have members of the community paint alongside of him making the project a true collaboration.”
About the Artist
Rob Anderson is an improvisational visual artist from Queens, New York City. Like a great jazz musician, he ignites his audiences by inviting them into his vision and to participate in his creations. He regards any space as an opportunity for community-oriented works that are whimsical, delightfully free and irreverently reverent.
Elevating community is at the heart of Rob’s artistic DNA. As early as 2015, his interactive, large-scale canvas projects have captivated and integrated (delighted?) audiences. Investing in his community through volunteering for causes, teaching mural workshops or participating in fundraising opportunities are integral to Anderson’s process. Most recently, he donated 100% of the proceeds totaling thousands of dollars from his auctioned artwork to benefit the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.
Anderson’s interactive paint by numbers project, The Kittizens have now been featured at events throughout New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco and have encouraged hundreds of participants to collaborate in bringing his work to life. If you ever find Rob in the wild, he will happily offer you to join his mural making process, sharing his brushes and guidance to passers-by stumbling on these living documents of community and culture.
About Alexander’s, Inc. Alexander’s, Inc. is a NYSE-listed real estate investment trust (REIT) engaged in leasing, managing, developing and redeveloping properties. Alexander’s activities are conducted through its manager, Vornado Realty Trust. Alexander’s has seven properties in the greater New York City metropolitan area consisting of: 731 Lexington Avenue office and retail (including Bloomberg, L.P.’s world headquarters), the Rego Center complex in Rego Park, Queens, including the Rego Park I, II, and III retail properties and The Alexander apartment tower, and retail properties located in Paramus, NJ & Flushing, NY. Alexander’s is listed under the ticker symbol: ALX on the NYSE.