By: Matt Emma

This September, Washington Square Park will host a performance unlike anything else in New York. For four Saturdays, artist David Drebin will present Hidden Stars, a public work that transforms an ordinary city square into a space of recognition, reflection, and possibility.

Drebin is known internationally for his limited edition artworks, collected across the world for their cinematic scale and emotional intensity. Yet with Hidden Stars, he is stepping into uncharted territory. There is no camera, no frame, no exhibition wall—only a stage, an audience, and the city itself. Where his photographs are typically encountered in galleries or private collections, this project unfolds in the everyday rhythm of the city.

The project is simple in form but carries significant intention. Anyone passing through the park can step onto the stage. No casting, no script, no direction. Each person who chooses to step forward contributes to the work in real time. In this way, passersby are not only observers but participants, helping shape the performance alongside Drebin himself.

What sets Hidden Stars apart is Drebin’s motivation. At its core, the project is a tribute to his late mother, who helped shape his understanding of beauty as presence rather than appearance. “My mom was the beauty of all beauties,” Drebin recalls. “She had this way of making people feel like the most magical person in the world. That’s what I’m trying to carry forward—helping others recognize the greatness inside themselves.”

In this sense, Drebin is not the star of the performance, but the amplifier. His role is to act as a mirror, reflecting back to participants a version of themselves they may not always recognize—strong, radiant, and unforgettable.

“Art, for me, has always been about transformation,” he explains. “In my artworks, I capture cinematic moments that suggest possibility. With Hidden Stars, I’m doing that live. The aim is for people to feel seen—perhaps for the first time in their lives.”

The performance carries an element of unpredictability. Some who step forward may tell their stories; others may say nothing at all. But Drebin believes the silence can be just as powerful. “It’s not about what they do,” he says. “It’s about giving them a stage to simply exist, and in that moment, to realize how extraordinary they already are.”

Promotion for Hidden Stars mirrors the energy of a cultural event. Posters, stencils, and cryptic teasers will ripple across Manhattan, creating a sense of intrigue rather than over-explanation. The mystery, Drebin feels, is part of the appeal: “You can’t really explain magic. You just have to be there to experience it.”

At a time when the art world often celebrates exclusivity, Hidden Stars offers a refreshing alternative: art that welcomes everyone, staged not behind gallery walls but in the heart of New York City.

Ultimately, Drebin sees the project as a continuation of the lessons his mother taught him. “She showed me that true beauty is the ability to make others feel radiant,” he says. “That’s my mission with Hidden Stars. To give people a stage, to be a mirror, and to remind them of the greatness that’s already inside.”

Hidden Stars offers New Yorkers an opportunity to engage with art in an open and accessible way. By placing the focus on everyday participants rather than professional performers, the project emphasizes recognition and shared experience. For Drebin, it is both a continuation of his artistic practice and a personal tribute, showing how public spaces can be used to highlight the value of simply being seen. The performances are free to attend and open to anyone passing through Washington Square Park. At a moment when visibility is often tied to fame or social media, Hidden Stars reframes recognition as something immediate and personal.