Weekend Pick: The Roof Garden Commission: Petrit Halilaj, Abetare

Petrit Halilaj (born Kosovo, 1986) Installation view of The Roof Garden Commission: Petrit Halilaj, Abetare, 2024

Perched atop the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art, the roof garden is the perfect place to finish off a day of exploring the galleries or to visit as a destination on its own. Even on busy days, the garden feels like a spacious oasis.

Strolling about the fifth-floor terrace, you’ll encounter striking skyline views that serve as the backdrop for some of the museum’s most contemporary and lively pieces. Sitting under the greenery-draped pergola or weaving through the prodigious metal sculpture garden, you’ll experience the iconic installation titled Abetare by Kosovan artist Petrit Halilaj.

Halilaj’s bold, immersive work draws inspiration from drawings made by children whose lives were marked by sociopolitical change. Sourced from scribbles, then enlarged and rendered in metal, the “drawings in space” are both visually stunning and emotionally evocative.

Petrit Halilaj (born Kosovo, 1986) Installation view of The Roof Garden Commission: Petrit Halilaj, Abetare, 2024

Abetare reflects on the necessity of art-making as a medium of self-expression and resilience. Filled in by the lush treetops of Central Park and the iconic silhouette of the skyline, Halilaj’s abstract designs magnify the innate artistic power of childhood creativity. This work is on view until October 27, 2024.

The roof garden is accessible by elevator and also features a small cafe.

Entrance is included with museum tickets, which are pay-what-you-wish for New Yorkers.

-Emma Gould