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New Orleans' public art scene continues to evolve with the installation of Parade, a monumental piece by New York City-based artist Wyatt Kahn. Parade is located on the Poydras Street neutral ground between Carondelet Street and St. Charles Avenue.

Combining abstract figures with everyday objects, Parade is crafted from Cor-ten steel, creating a striking rust-colored exterior. At over 3,300 pounds and measuring more than 15 feet wide, Parade features a surreal geometrical shape alongside a large foot and a lightbulb. This interplay encourages a reflection of the dynamic relationship between art and everyday existence, challenging us to reconsider the transformative power of familiar objects when reimagined as sculptural expressions.

Parade is part of a seven-piece ensemble, Life in the Abstract, which debuted as the artist’s first-ever public art exhibition as a commission through the prestigious New York Public Art Fund. Life in the Abstract takes elements from Kahn’s canvas works and places them in contrast with everyday household items. His work reminds viewers of the connection between the abstract and the ordinary, highlighting how conventional objects can take on new meanings when juxtaposed with artistic elements.

Kahn remarked that he is “humbled and stoked” to be a part of such an influential and important public art exhibition. He added, “I’m interested to see how New Orleans views the sculpture differently than other major cities like New York and Mexico where the piece previously resided.”