September 10, 2025 | Art & Culture
on the RED CARPET:
BRAD WALLS’ PASSÉ
words Noah Mercer
Opening on September 12 in New York, PASSÉ marks Brad Walls’ most ambitious project to date—three years in the making and redefining ballet from above. Known for his minimalist aerial photography and internationally published series, Walls invites viewers not just to observe, but to step inside the frame—onto the very red carpet where the art was created, and into the intimate lives of the dancers themselves.
Visitors enter through The Red Room, walking a full-length red carpet originally used during the shoot. At eye level, life-sized prints line the walls, bringing audiences face-to-face with the dancers in striking, intimate detail. Every element is conceived to blur the line between image and reality, performance and memory.
ON THE RED CARPET
The project is one of the largest choreographed ballet photoshoots ever attempted: 60 dancers, a 10-person crew, and a single 8-hour session of continuous shooting. A football field–sized red carpet covered the warehouse floor, while an equally massive bounce suspended overhead created diffused, cinematic light. A custom crane rig stabilized the camera, capturing meticulously storyboarded sequences—20 in total, 8 brought vividly to life.
Choreographer Ian Schwaner played a key role, crafting movement sequences that merged classical discipline with graphic design. The cast included dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School, and Ballet East—assembling some of the most accomplished performers in the country.
A TACTILE CONNECTION
Every visitor to PASSÉ receives a handwritten postcard from one of the featured ballerinas, printed with imagery from the series. These keepsakes transform observation into presence, offering a personal and lasting connection to the work.
The origins of PASSÉ lie in a moment of vulnerability. During Walls’ first ballet shoot in 2021 with ballerina Montana Rubin, a group of young triplets approached her, visibly moved. “That moment struck me,” Walls recalls. “It reminded me that ballet, while celebrated for its perfection, is also deeply human. This project is about honoring that—making the distance between performer and viewer disappear.”
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Dates: September 12–14, 2025
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: 347 Broome Street, New York, NY
