Glen Wilson, Metamorfosis: present Future Flow, 2025, glass mosaic tile, printed aluminum composite and flat ride cymbal, PS 105 Addition, Bronx

Metamorfosis: Present Future Flow is a site-specific artwork created by Glen Wilson for the lobby of the new P.S. 105 Addition, Bronx. Spanning a curved wall, the vibrant glass mosaic and printed aluminum board installation, weaves together themes of culture, community and the cosmos. On the left side, a hand gently places a turntable stylus onto a record, while on the right, another hand cunningly moves a royal chess piece—celebrating two cherished neighborhood pastimes: music and chess. A river-like pattern of tesserae connects the two hands, evoking the borough’s defining waterways—the Harlem, Bronx and East Rivers. Photographic relief elements ripple over the mosaic’s surface, creating a dynamic collage of Bronx architecture and streetscapes—brick walls, graffiti, train tracks and street signs—interspersed with cosmic and natural images like the Milky Way, the moon, clouds and dew drops.  

Wilson’s imagery pays tribute to the Bronx as the birthplace of global trends in music and culture. A found jazz cymbal subtly references the borough’s rich musical heritage, from the evolution of cumbia to the emergence of hip hop. Small groupings of mirrored tiles undulate across the bottom of the artwork revealing special surprises such as musical notes and constellations. The title, borrowing from the Meridian Brothers’ song Metamorfosis, evokes both transformation and flow, echoing the rhythms of rushing water and the pulse of everyday life in the Bronx. As Wilson explains, his artwork seeks to “amplify the overlapping modes of inquiry and discovery that link all art and science. It is exciting to imagine young minds opening to new vibrations and pathways to becoming…leaning into Metamorfosis to catch daily glimpses of themselves.”