New York, NY — In the heart of Times Square, where neon lights never dim and movement never stops, artist Simona Ray staged an unforgettable performance that captured both art lovers and unsuspecting passers-by. For 24 hours, every hour on the hour, she returned to the same spot — standing motionless in front of a giant screen projecting her paintings. Behind her, her art was magnified for thousands to see; before it, she stood quietly, as the living artist, small yet powerfully present.

The performance, titled “SEE YOU”, created a stark contrast: the monumental image versus the still, vulnerable human. In a place designed for spectacle, Ray’s work demanded a pause. Her presence invited a deeper question — Do we notice each other at all? Do we truly see the life in front of us, or only the images behind it?

Crowds gathered, phones came out, and whispers spread through the Square. Some stopped for seconds, others lingered longer. Many returned multiple times throughout the day to witness her unwavering commitment. Her work stood out not as just another attraction in Times Square, but as a challenge to its very essence: a space of constant distraction.

Ray describes her work as “exploring the act of truly seeing — not just looking at an image, but acknowledging the life, presence, and story behind it.” Through “SEE YOU,” she became both seen and unseen, a human figure standing between art and the world.

The endurance of 24 hours underscored the seriousness of her artistic question. This wasn’t a stunt, but a living dialogue: slowing the gaze, breaking the habit of overlooking, and creating moments of connection. Each return to the same spot reset the stage — a ritual, a reminder, a confrontation with visibility and invisibility in equal measure.

For many in Times Square, accustomed to constant sensory overload, the performance became an unexpected moment of quiet depth. For Simona Ray, it was a statement: “This is me. In Times Square, I am both seen and unseen.”

About the Artist:
Simona Ray is an artist and poet whose work merges image, performance, and presence. Her practice focuses on slowing perception, making visible the overlooked, and reconnecting viewers with the humanity behind images. Her latest project “SEE YOU” expands this vision into the public space of Times Square.

More about her work can be found at https://sentienttopaint.art/see-you/

About Women Beyond Borders:
The performance took place within Women Beyond Borders, an international exhibition organized by Art Queens Gallery. The event, celebrating women’s creativity across cultures, was also covered by Art HERstory Magazine, reinforcing its impact in the global art scene.

For more information, visit
www.artqueensgallery.com
www.artherstorymagazine.com