Works by Finnish artist Antti Laitinen shown; recently displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts in London

Real estate professionals and art enthusiasts gathered at The Centurion® luxury condominium located at 33 West 56th Street recently for the opening of an exhibit by Finnish artist, Antti Laitinen. In his first exhibit outside of a museum or gallery, Laitinen’s cycle of art titled “It’s My Island” and “Bark Boat,” will be displayed until March 30, 2012 in one of the large residences at The Centurion.

The photographs and videos on display show the artist building his own island by filling bags with sand and dragging them into the Baltic Sea in “It’s My Island,” which was most recently displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. In the other cycle, “Bark Boat,” Laitinen built a boat from tree bark and crossed the Baltic Sea. The opening exhibit event was fittingly held December 6th, which is Finland’s Independence Day.

The 19-story Centurion, a work of art in its own right, is the first condominium building in Manhattan with an I.M. Pei pedigree. Among Mr. Pei’s imaginative, graceful and refined works are the pyramid entrance to the Louvre in Paris, the Four Seasons Hotel in New York and the Bank of China building in Hong Kong.

The three-bedroom, 3.5 bath residence where the art is currently on display boasts 18-foot ceilings, and more than 2,000-square-feet. Apartment 15B is priced at $6,950,000. The property is now 70 percent sold and closed.

A full-service building, The Centurion offers amenities including a private exercise facility, a 24-hour attended garage, a doorman, resident superintendent and storage units for purchase. Residents will also only be steps away from superb dining, entertainment, hotels, museums, city landmarks and Central Park. The Centurion is at the center of Manhattan’s world-famous shopping corridor, Fifth Avenue.

The Centurion Condominium, located at 33 West 56th Street next to Fifth Avenue and within walking distance to Central Park, is now 65 percent sold and closed. Only 15 residences and three outstanding penthouses remain available for purchase. Prices range from $2.5 to $39 million.

The building has seen a surge in sales in recent months as buyers from Europe, Asia and Latin America have discovered the building’s unique combination of boutique-style services and prominent location.

“High-profile buyers from all over the world have selected The Centurion as their primary or second home, and many have cited the iconic property’s central location, elegant architecture, high security and personal service as key factors in their decision,” said Thomas Guss, president of New York Residence Inc., a company that specializes in international sales and investment properties and is the exclusive marketing and sales agent for The Centurion. “The property effortlessly combines exclusivity with elegance.”

Guss continued, “One of the reasons the building now stands out is the lack of high-quality new construction in Manhattan. There is really nothing available that comes close in terms of architecture, quality and price.”

The 19-story, property is the only ground-up residential condominium designed by Design Architect/Pei Partnership Architects with I.M. Pei in Manhattan. The building makes a strong architectural statement, with a waterfall-shaped façade with setbacks in a sloped fashion, in rare limestone from France.

For a limited time, Sandi Pei is personally available to exquisitely hand-tailor the interior design of a purchased unit to the custom tastes and desires of its buyer.

The Centurion is a serene space in the center of dynamic Manhattan. Apartments have high ceilings and are light-flooded, while the tranquil lobby and its water garden add a unique feature to the full-range of 24-hour services found in a high-end residential building, including a private exercise facility, a 24-hour attended garage, a 24-hour doorman, resident superintendent and storage units for purchase.

Additional amenities include partnerships with Townhouse Spa and the Peninsula, which offer exclusive services for The Centurion residents. With Townhouse Spa next door to the building, residents at The Centurion are offered treatments in their homes.

Only steps from Central Park, Fifth Avenue and many of New York’s best shops such as Gucci, Prada, Hermes, Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari and Harry Winston, the building offers easy access to the best of New York.

New York Residence maintains an onsite sales office in the building and appointments to view the stunning property are available daily. They also recently began offering four-percent commission to the brokerage community through the end of the year.

For more information or to schedule a private appointment, call 212-888-5633 or visit www.centurioncondo.com <http://www.centurioncondominium.com/> .