Pernilla Ohrstedt Studio wins Times Square’s 17th Love & Design Competition with oyster cage installation

The installation features a heart-shaped, three-dimensional grid constructed from metal mesh typically used for oyster reef cages. As visitors move around the piece, its shape and color appear to shift, creating a dynamic and tactile experience among Times Square’s digital screens. The project highlights the lifecycle of its materials, promoting reuse and environmental responsibility.

In addition to the artistic structure, the installation will include an oyster cage filled with recycled shells, raising awareness about the Billion Oyster Project’s mission to restore New York Harbor’s oyster reefs. Oysters play a vital role in enhancing biodiversity, filtering water, and acting as natural storm barriers. Since 2014, the Billion Oyster Project has diverted over 2.4 million pounds of oyster shells from landfills, repurposing them to rebuild reefs.

“From the heart of New York City to its shoreline. Our sculpture will begin by broadcasting love for people, community and environment,” Pernilla Ohrstedt said about the scheme. “Highlighting one of the city’s most exciting ecological initiatives - Billion Oyster Project - to the global audience of Times Square. After the sculpture will disperse, the pieces of the heart become oyster research cages placed all around New York City’s shoreline. Monitored by hundreds of volunteering New Yorkers creating oyster reefs that clean our waters.”

The 2025 competition also marks the first commission for The World Around, a nonprofit advocating for ecological and social justice in design. This year’s theme required materials to be reusable and sustainable, with a focus on fostering community gathering spaces. The curators emphasized the importance of creating installations that transcend aesthetic appeal and contribute to long-term environmental equity.