NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2017 /CNW/ -- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) today announced that internationally acclaimed artist Stephen Wiltshire will create a one-of-a-kind artwork of the New York City Skyline. Following a 45-minute helicopter ride around Manhattan, Wiltshire will draw a cityscape beginning today through Sunday, October 15, 2017, culminating with a signing ceremony on Monday, October 16, 2017. Wiltshire famously creates his artwork from memory and will do this piece in residence on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building. The London-based artist's progress will be visible to Observatory visitors as he draws from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
"Stephen Wiltshire has a truly special gift, an enormous talent. To have the chance to have Stephen in residence at the Empire State Building is truly an honor, and for him to allow our guests to watch him work is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of ESRT. "Stephen has a special affection for the Empire State Building, and we can't wait to see how he portrays the building amidst his cityscape."
Since age 3, Wiltshire has communicated with the world through the language of drawing. He was an award-winning artist in children's art competitions, and he received his first commission from the British Prime Minister at age 8. In 2006, he was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the art world, and later that year founded his gallery at the Royal Opera Arcade in London.
Wiltshire's unique talent and fondness for cityscapes have taken him around the world to Tokyo, Madrid, Dubai, Jerusalem, Singapore, Sydney, Shanghai, Istanbul, Mexico City and Rome, among many other locations. New York City remains a favorite metropolis, second only to his home in London.
"After many, many years of traveling and sketching cities across the globe, I always come back to Manhattan as a place for inspiration," said Stephen Wiltshire. "The Empire State Building has long been my favorite building in the world, and while I had the opportunity to sketch it in 2015, this is a unique commission which has me really excited."
About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions as the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, www.youtube.com/esbnyc or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg/.
About Empire State Realty Trust
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world's most famous building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of June 30, 2017, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.
About Stephen Wiltshire
Stephen Wiltshire is an artist who draws and paints detailed cityscapes. He has a particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. He was awarded an MBE for services to the art world in 2006. He studied Fine Art at City & Guilds Art College. His work is popular all over the world, and is held in a number of important collections. For more information, please visit http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/.
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SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
For further information: United Entertainment Group for Empire State Building, Rebecca Timms, Rebecca.Timms@uegworldwide.com; The Stephen Wiltshire Gallery, Zoltan Szipola, zoltan@stephenwiltshire.co.uk, http://www.esbnyc.com
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