ABHAYA by Sonny Behan (Miami, FL)

Sonny Behan (also known as Sonny Sundancer) is an internationally recognized artist celebrated for his large-scale murals, bronze sculptures, and immersive studio works.

Known for blending hyper-realism with abstraction, Sonny creates emotionally powerful pieces that explore the relationship between nature and humanity. His work often features wildlife in surreal, dreamlike settings, urging reflection on conservation, interconnectedness, and the beauty of the natural world.

A life-size tiger mid-leap, symbolizing resilience and forward momentum amidst ecological challenges. The bronze sculpture invites reflection on courage, conservation, and the interconnectedness of all life.

Abhaya - meaning "fearlessness" - first unveiled at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in 2021 in collaboration with Discovery Project C.A.T. (Conserving Acres For Tigers), a project launched by Discovery, Inc. in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and others to support a worldwide effort to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022.

Bridging hyper-realism with abstraction, reflecting the delicate balance between nature and humanity, Abhaya serves as a call to action, reminding viewers of the collective responsibility to protect and preserve wildlife and their habitats.

Sonny’s public art installations span continents and include collaborations with the influential organizations such as the United Nations, World Wildlife Fund, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Whether on a city wall or cast in bronze, his work is driven by a desire to deepen our connection to our wild planet.

Visit Sonny’s website for more information and photos

BEACON by David Oliver (Ventura, CA)

Ventura, CA-based artist, David Oliver has been creating art for as long as he can remember, with a passion that dates back to his early school days. His large-scale sculptural pieces are a mesmerizing blend of steel and stained glass, exploring themes of time, energy, and transformation. Among his notable works is Beacon, a frequency beacon that continues his series of portal-inspired sculptures, including Portal to the Present and Petaled Portal.

In our busy, noisy world, our senses have become dulled. Constant distractions, from bright lights to loud noises, have overwhelmed us. Beacon rises above this interference and serves as a reminder of the subtler, often ignored beauty that surrounds us. Beacon offers a pure and undisturbed experience. It translates natural frequencies into something we can perceive, reminding us of the beauty and tranquility of the world around us. The installation offers a form of "visual medicine for the soul”, reconnecting us with our environment and ourselves.

Visit David’s Instagram

CORALEE by Dana Albany (San Francisco, CA)

Dana Albany is a prolific San Francisco Bay Area artist who produces and fabricates large-scale sculptures, museum exhibits and interactive installations of extraordinary vision.

She has created and exhibited for Burning Man, the de Young Museum of Art, Chatsworth House in the U.K., The Exploratorium, The California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Arts Commission, SOMAR Gallery and the San Francisco Airport.

Coralee is a mermaid sculpture composed of recycled glass and mixed-metals. The sculpture was originally built onsite in England in 2022 for public display at the Chatsworth Palace located in Derbyshire, England as part of their Radical Horizons Exhibit: The Art of Burning Man. Local school children were able to participate in the creation of her glass scales. Glass bottles were collected, cleaned, tumbled and later fused together. Recycled materials such as ancient keys, spoons, and cabinet handles were collected and saved by the phenomenal staff at Chatsworth House.

This mesmerizing creature emerges from the past, paying homage to legend and mythical tales about mermaids once said to inhabit the landlocked region of the National Peak District in Great Britain.

In our present time, Coralee urges viewers to take a closer look at the treasures she is compiled of and perhaps contemplate current environmental issues on land and at sea. She is a symbol of feminine strength and beauty, a modern-day heroine.

Visit Dana’s website for more information and photos

DUALITY by Giuseppe Palumbo (Richmond, CA)

Giuseppe Palumbo's figurative bronze sculptures are textural, warm, spirited works that capture the essence of each being he portrays. Two figures balance on a linear plane perched on a circle. Duality reflects on the two sides we all have in our lives while also trying to achieve a balance.

Palumbo is widely known for his sculptures depicting flying pigs, meditative bulls, and a dancing-sheep chorus line. Through his work he seeks to activate a deeper consciousness and conversation within ourselves beyond the completeness of words.

He has studied in Italy, Mexico, Loveland, CO, Scottsdale, AZ, and the Art Students League in Denver, CO. He maintains studios in Richmond, CA and Eldorado Springs, CO. Giuseppe’s work is currently in galleries in Healdsburg, St. Helena, Yountville and Sausalito.

Visit Giuseppe’s website for more information and photos

THE KNIGHT by Matt Burney and Joe Mross (Eugene, OR)

The Knight, unofficially the world’s largest chest knight and weighing approximately 6 tons, pays homage to some of humankind’s superpowers, the majesty of the horse, fire, iron, stone, bronze, and, of course, hydraulic power! In the game of chess, the knight is the only piece whose movement (and representation as a horse) has remained unchanged for over a millennium. Metal shaping techniques borrowed from shipyards were used to produce the gracefully curved shapes reminiscent of hand carved wooden chess pieces.

The Knight was designed by Joe Mross and Matt Burney and constructed in Matt’s workshop from 2022- 2023. Joe handmade the molds for the portholes and they were cast by Reinmuth Foundry in Eugene, Oregon. One stone on the bench has an inlaid bronze placard with the artists’ names. The knight won a gold medal in the National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association’s 2023 top job competition, which is peer voted by the nation’s top metal fabricators.

Visit So Metal’s website for more information and photos

RHINO by Barry Crawford (Reno, NV)

Crawford Metal Works is based in Silver Springs, NV, where Barry Crawford specializes in creating large metal sculptures for the public to enjoy.

Rhino is a mechanically styled sculpture of a Rhinoceros. It is made up of found steel objects and has 6 moveable features, including eyes, eyelids, mouth, ears, head, and tail. Rhino was an Honorarium project for Burning Man and mad its debut in 2024.

Visit Barry’s website for more information and photos

UNSAFE TO SWIM by Oleg Lobykin (Palo Alto, CA)

Oleg stepped out of his comfort zone and displayed a new piece utilizing recycled materials for the first time. Unsafe To Swim is an artwork that is a visual symbol of danger, fear, and hope for tomorrow. It seeks to raise awareness about the human impact on nature and our interconnectedness with our environment.

Oleg Lobykin (Russian, b. 1966) is a sculptor. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Lobykin now resides in Silicon Valley and also specializes in the restoration of landmark architecture and sculpture.

“While I’m a classically trained master stone carver, as an artist and sculptor I work in a variety of materials to express my conceptually driven ideas in novel sculptural form, experimenting with texture, materials, color, or interactive elements. I try to realize the potential of art as my contribution to society.”

Visit Oleg’s website for more information and photos