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Award-Winning Public Art
Phase 1 Artwork – 95/105 The Pond Road
Often described as a collagist, Montreal artist Nicolas Baier uses digital imaging to create photographic works inspired by the places he has lived and experienced. His work is held in major public and private collections worldwide, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Harvard Business School’s Schwartz Collection.
Created for the exterior of The Quad, Baier’s artwork takes the form of a branching, interconnected network.
Inspired by the structure of a tree, it references the architectural and intellectual traditions of universities—such as York University—alongside the spirit of scientific discovery that defines them.
The imagery moves across scales—from ivy and organic growth to neural networks, crystal structures, and galactic formations—suggesting a shared pattern that connects natural, human, and cosmic systems. These intricate networks are precisely engraved into the building’s aluminum panels, becoming part of its surface.
At its core, the work reflects a simple idea: everything is connected. By bringing together art and science, Baier highlights their shared role in helping us understand the world and our place within it.
More specifically the depicted networks describe branches of ivy, the shape of a super cluster of galaxies and the human neuronal network, expressed through a progressive multiplication of metaphorical references. The reticular system will transform into a galactic super cluster, dendrites, the vectors describing the planes of a crystal, and the easily recognized organic growth of vines or ivy. These networks will be engraved, through very precise lines that will be engraved into the aluminum panels which form the skin of the building.
Wheel of Fortune is a positive reminder of our shared capacity to make choices big and small. Each choice we make compounds to make a life. And, of course, each day brings different choices. For students who live here or for people who frequently pass by the Quad, the artwork will change as different words resonate at different moments. Its steadfast presence, meanwhile, will become a symbol of reassurance, of home.
Wheel of Fortune is a community beacon that promotes inclusion and participation while also celebrating the practice of daily life. This decision wheel speaks to the fact that we are constantly making choices, big and small, that impact our experiences. Akin to a Magic 8 Ball or a chance cube, the coin suggests that it can provide viewers answers to questions they may have, as if speaking directly to them. The coin appears as if it has rolled into the courtyard as it lands on the answer definitely. In any given year, one in five Canadians experiences a mental health challenge or illness, and, by age forty, half of all Canadians will have or will have had a mental illness. At some point, mental illness will impact us all. Studies have proven that when people believe they have a choice or are presented with options and can therefore make a decision, they feel better and more equipped to handle adversity.
Phase 2 Artwork – 115 Haynes Avenue
Julia Dault’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the New Museum and the Marrakesh and Gwangju Biennales, and is held in major collections such as the National Gallery of Canada and the Guggenheim Museum.
Wheel of Fortune is a bold, interactive piece that serves as a community beacon. Designed as a decision wheel, it playfully references objects like the Magic 8 Ball, highlighting the role of choice in everyday life.
Appearing as though it has rolled into the courtyard and landed on an answer, the work invites reflection on the decisions that shape our experiences. It also speaks to mental health, reminding us that a sense of choice can help people better navigate uncertainty.
At its core, the work offers a message of connection, reassurance, and home.
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