The Portal – the interactive art installation that connected New York City to Dublin earlier this year and was briefly shut down due to “inappropriate behavior” and other shenanigans (we’re looking at you, Dublin) – has been relocated from NYC to Philadelphia’s Love Park, officially known as John F. Kennedy Plaza.
The Portal, which stands almost 3.6 meters (12 feet) tall, features a large screen and a camera that’s live-linked to similar structures in other cities, creating an immersive “window” where people in each location can see and interact with each other in real time.
Its livestream currently flickers between different cities – including Vilnius in Lithuania, Lublin in Poland, and Dublin in Ireland – every three minutes. The creator is hoping to link some new locations, including Piauí in Brazil, in the near future too.
The project is the brainchild of Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys who hopes his work will encourage people to view the world as a “united planet.” His ultimate aim is to create a global network of portals in what he’s dubbed the “world’s largest artwork.”
“The addition of the Portal in Philadelphia is an exciting step forward in our mission to build a bridge to a united planet. Each of these sculptures serves as a reminder that we share more than what separates us, offering an invitation to experience our world as one united home planet,” Gylys said in a statement.
“The Portal’s arrival in the heart of Philadelphia is an exciting moment for our city that offers a new way to engage with the world, particularly ahead of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. This project is a celebration of our city’s spirit of innovation and unity,” said Michael Newmuis, 2026 Director, City of Philadelphia.
“The Portal is an extension of the public space, it’s like a window.”
When the portal between New York and Dublin was opened up earlier this year, it unleashed a host of rude and wild behavior, such as people cursing at each other or brandishing inappropriate images to offend the other city. There was also a fair share of mooning and flashing.
The “inappropriate behavior” led to the portal being briefly closed for a few days, before being reopened with a few extra precautions.
Only time will tell if Philly’s residents will be better behaved than the New Yorkers and Dubliners, although we wouldn’t count on it.
The OnlyFans model who infamously flashed the New York-Dublin portal has already done the same at the newly opened Philadelphia portal. After performing the publicity stunt on Friday, she told the New York Post: “The name Ava Louise and portal now co-exist so I will continue to follow it on its journey around the world.”
