A mural honoring ancient and modern figures in medicine that has been hanging in the lobby of Pfizer’s original New York City headquarters for over 60 years is facing the threat of being dismantled due to the building’s conversion into residential apartments. The massive metal and tile mosaic titled “Medical Research Through the Ages” features scientists and lab equipment and has been a prominent feature in the lobby since the 1960s. With a move-out date of September 10 looming, art conservationists and the late artist’s daughters are racing to find a new home for the mural, estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars to move and remount. Suggestions include placement in an educational institution or a public art program in New York City.
The mural, created by Greek American artist Nikos Bel-Jon, was the centerpiece of Pfizer’s world headquarters when the building opened in 1961, symbolizing corporate success during that era. Despite the building being sold by Pfizer and the company relocating its headquarters last year, the current developer, Metro Loft, has no interest in preserving the artwork. The estimated cost of removal and relocation is between $20,000 and $50,000, requiring financial support from potential patrons and institutions. Failure to find a new home would result in the mural being broken up into sections and moved into storage, a fate that the artist’s daughter, Rhea Bel-Jon Calkins, wants to avoid.
The artwork’s metal panels shaped like laboratory beakers, funnels, and flasks have been described as a dull gray and white in recent years, lacking the original multicolored lighting scheme remembered by Bel-Jon Calkins. While the mural may lack commercial value and awareness of the artist, Richard McCoy of the Landmark Columbus Foundation notes its potential historical significance and calls for its preservation. Bel-Jon Calkins tracks her father’s murals, a significant number of which have been lost or destroyed over the years, often due to corporations not valuing them enough to preserve them. The urgency to find a new home for the mural is highlighted by the ongoing demolition of the building and the impending disposal of its contents.
With time running out, efforts are being made to save the unique artwork that symbolizes the history of medicine and scientific research. The push to find a suitable patron or institution willing to cover the costs of relocating and reinstalling the mural highlights the challenges faced in preserving cultural heritage in the face of development and changing priorities. As the fate of the mural hangs in the balance, the importance of recognizing and protecting artistic creations, especially those with historical significance, is emphasized through the story of Nikos Bel-Jon’s work and the race against time to secure its future.
