If we’re going to have to suffer through the coldest weather in two years, we might as well make the most of it–and this exciting event is a reason to grab your trusty puffer coat and come out of hibernation!
For the fourth year in a row, professional ice carvers will show off their ice carving skills at the fourth annual Governors Island Ice Sculpture Show, returning next month on Saturday, February 8th. The ice sculpting competition gives New Yorkers and visitors alike the chance to be wowed by ice carving demonstrations in real time.
Ten finalists have been selected, each of which will be paired with professional ice carvers from Okamoto Studio on the day of the event. Visitors are invited to witness the ice carvings from 12 to 2 pm and even cast their vote in the “People’s Choice” award for their favorite sculpture!
The 2025 Governors Island Ice Sculpture Show artists are as follows:
- Ana Añu – Añu’s ecopoetic sculpture that reflects the importance of animism in climate storytelling
- Elijah Chavez – Chavez’s sculpture will depict an anatomical human heart while serving as a community alter inspired by the the Day of the Dead
- Jake DeMartini – DeMartini’s sculpture honors the titular object’s minimal design and engineering alongside Governors Island’s nautical history
- Shawn Hill – Hill’s sculpture will depict a species of bird commonly seen on Governors Island
- Aharon Levy – Levy’s sculpture will explore the tension between nature and urban environments
- Agustina Markez – Markez will explore the star as a symbol both in the context of nature and pop culture
- Josef Pinlac – Pinlac will celebrate pollinators, incorporating honeycomb designs and honoring the Island’s bee population
- Sonya Sobieski – Sobieski’s sculpture will depict an oversized pair of binoculars with birds commonly seen on Governors Island
- Katerina Sokolovskaya – Sokolovskaya will explore how people coexist with their surroundings
- Mai Sone – Sone will sculpt a squirrel eating Governors Island
Beyond the actual competition, the event will also include ice carving workshops from Okamoto Studio, crafts from Red Hook Art Project, live music from disco-infused Afrofuturist funk duo The Illustrious Blacks, and a special performance by NYC-based all-women, trans, and non-binary drumline Fogo Azul.
And if you get hungry, Makina Café (one of our favorite spots in the city for Ethiopian food) will be open in Colonels Row alongside additional food trucks Nao Caribbean Flavors, The Original Soupman, and Deploy Coffee, curated by Four Wheel Feasts.
This one-of-a-kind event is too cool to miss, and it’s free and open to all, no registration or tickets required, so be sure to add it onto your weekend calendar!
And as with any trip to Governors Island, we suggest enjoying all the breathtaking views of the city skyline you’ll see along the way!