HORSES IN THE HEART OF CHAOS: BRINGING PEACE TO TIMES SQUARE
When I submitted my Equus series to an international art competition, I didn’t expect much. I just knew I wanted these horses—the ones that had carried me through the hardest moments of my life—to reach as many people as possible.
When I found out that all five pieces had been selected to cover the 23-story Westin Tower in Times Square, I was stunned.
Times Square is chaos personified. It’s noise, movement, and relentless energy. But it’s also where so many people come searching—whether for inspiration, a sense of purpose, or just a moment of connection.
That’s why I sent my horses there.
I wanted these paintings to be messengers of peace, strength, and grace in the middle of all that chaos. I wanted someone—maybe a tourist, or a New Yorker rushing to their next meeting—to stop, look up, and feel something. Maybe they’d remember the wildness in their own soul. Maybe they’d reconnect with the strength they’d forgotten they had.
Seeing my work displayed on that massive scale was surreal. It wasn’t just an honor—it was a responsibility. I felt exposed, even vulnerable, but I knew my horses could handle it. I apologized to them in my mind, for sending them into the storm. But they were right where they needed to be.
If you were in Times Square and saw them, I hope they reminded you of something bigger than the chaos around you. And if not, I hope their message finds you now.
Candida von Braun
A fifth-generation visual artist, brings a legacy of creative mastery to her work, seamlessly blending painting, architecture, and photography. Her pieces are housed in prominent collections across Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United States, each embodying the depth and elegance that define her distinguished career.
