If you’ve been a reader or subscriber for a while, you know that around here, we’re big believers in the power of public art.
And the newest piece here in Columbus is absolutely worth a visit. The Gathered, a breathtaking 625-square-foot glass mosaic by artist Andrew Hendrixson, now stretches across the east-facing wall of the Parkside on Pearl building, overlooking the newly reopened Italian Village Park.
Made up of nearly 400,000 hand-laid glass tiles, the piece catches the light in an ever-changing play of color and texture. From morning sun to evening glow, it creates a living, moving artwork that seems to breathe along with the neighborhood.
Art that reflects the community
At first glance, The Gathered is mesmerizing simply for its craftsmanship, but there’s more to it than beauty. The mosaic’s design, a rhythmic wave of color made from thousands of tiny, distinct tiles, is a metaphor for community itself. Every individual piece contributes to something greater, just like the people who make Italian Village what it is.
Commissioned by the Short North Alliance and made possible through support from Wood Companies and the Ohio Arts Council, the piece is a love letter to collaboration, creativity, and connection.
Meet the artist behind The Gathered
Andrew Hendrixson, a North Carolina–based artist and writer, is no stranger to weaving meaning into his work. His art has been exhibited across the country, and his creative practice often explores how beauty and belonging intersect.
He’s collaborated with incarcerated youth, created living-room installations from Los Angeles to New York, and is currently working with physicists on a book about the connection between science and art. With degrees from Yale, the University of Florida, and Duke, Hendrixson brings both heart and intellect to everything he touches.
For The Gathered, he wanted to remind viewers of the power of smallness—the idea that when individuals come together, they can create something extraordinary.
A celebration of color, light, and neighborhood pride
The mosaic officially debuted this month with a dedication ceremony featuring remarks from Mayor Andrew Ginther, live music from George Barrie, and plenty of treats from local Short North favorites. It marked not just the unveiling of a new artwork, but also the full reopening of Italian Village Park, now anchored by one of the city’s most striking pieces of public art.
The Gathered is bold, reflective, and quietly moving, a piece that belongs exactly where it is, right at the heart of a community that’s always evolving together.
For more about The Gathered and other public art in the Short North Arts District, visit shortnorth.org/public-art.
