Roberto Lugo, a renowned poet and potter, has unveiled two monumental public artworks in Madison Square Park, New York. The sculptures, commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy, celebrate Puerto Rican culture with an urn adorned with portraits of artists and political figures, alongside a towering fire hydrant symbolizing childhood summers.

Maribel Lugo, Roberto’s mother, was on hand for the unveiling, proudly pointing out her image in the work. The artist's larger-than-life pieces invite passersby to engage directly with his art, stepping inside the urn and connecting with memories of their own.

Lugo explains that the urn design is meant as a statement about equality, drawing from historical pottery traditions while also giving voice to immigrant experiences. His fire hydrant sculpture pays homage to his own childhood summers in Philadelphia, where water supply points provided cool relief on hot days.

Discussing the project with Hyperallergic, Lugo shared that he aims to infuse his work with a sense of resilience and ownership over histories lost through colonization and enslavement. He hopes these monuments will help reclaim those spaces, celebrating Puerto Rican culture and heritage in New York City.