PASSÉ: Aerial Minimalism Meets Classical Ballet in Brad Walls’ Latest Exhibition

Brad Walls presents PASSÉ, an immersive new exhibition set within a monochromatic red environment in New York City, reimagining ballet from an aerial perspective. 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 red carpet where the art was made, and into the lives and stories of the dancers themselves.

PASSÉ marks Walls’ celebrated exploration of movement, stillness, and symmetry. Visitors enter through The Red Room, walking a full-length red carpet originally used during the shoot itself. Life-sized photographic prints line the space at eye level, placing viewers face-to-face with the dancers in intimate, arresting detail. Every element is designed to blur the line between image and reality, performance and memory.

Three years in the making, PASSÉ is Walls’ most ambitious project to date. It features one of the largest choreographed ballet photoshoots ever attempted, involving 60 dancers, a 10-person crew, and a single 8-hour session of continuous shooting. A massive football field–sized red carpet was laid across the warehouse floor. Above it, an equally large light bounce was suspended to create even, diffused lighting throughout the space. A custom crane rig stabilized the camera to capture precisely choreographed scenes from directly above. More than 20 compositions were meticulously storyboarded; 8 were successfully brought to life.

Choreographer Ian Schwaner played an integral role in the project’s development, crafting movement sequences that fused classical discipline with graphic design. The cast includes dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School, and Ballet East, bringing together some of the most skilled performers in the country.

Every visitor at PASSÉ will receive a handwritten postcard from a featured ballerina, printed with images from the series. These unique keepsakes serve as both a personal connection and a lasting memento—turning viewers into collectors of the dancers’ stories. The tactile gesture echoes the exhibition’s emotional core: to turn observation into presence, and stillness into something deeply felt.

PASSÉ began with a moment of unexpected vulnerability. During Walls’ first ballet shoot in 2021 with ballerina Montana Rubin, a group of young triplets approached Rubin and were visibly moved. “That moment hit me,” Walls recalls. “It reminded me that ballet, while celebrated for its perfection, is also deeply human. This project is about honoring that—about making the distance between performer and viewer disappear.”

PASSÉ is both a cinematic sendoff and a tribute to the emotional power of ballet. By flipping the traditional vantage point and placing the viewer at the center of the experience, Walls invites the audience not just to witness the art, but to become part of it.

Exhibition details:

September 12 - 14, 2025
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
347 Broome Street
New York, NY

About Brad Walls:

Brad Walls (b. 1992) is an Australian visual artist known for transforming everyday subjects into striking compositions of symmetry, space, and form. Originally from Sydney and now based in New York, Walls rose to prominence with his minimalist bird’s-eye perspective, capturing everything from synchronized swimmers to ballet dancers. His acclaimed series Pools From Above sparked international attention, leading to global exhibitions, awards, and a growing collector base. Like his compositions, Walls’s exhibitions are immersive by design, inviting viewers to reimagine the world from above.