Jeff Koons, the renowned contemporary artist, made a triumphant return to Los Angeles this week, where he enthusiastically engaged in a ceremonial planting atop a construction lift at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
Standing at a height of 37 feet, Koons delicately placed a small, silvery gray dudleya succulent on the nose of his monumental topiary sculpture known as “Split-Rocker.”
“I’m so excited, Los Angeles is feeling like home!” the 70-year-old artist exclaimed as he greeted cheers and claps from workers and LACMA employees gathered below him.
“It is home!” echoed LACMA Director and Chief Executive Michael Govan in response to Koons’s excitement.
The excitement surrounding “Split-Rocker” isn’t just in its vibrant aesthetic but in its significance as an ecological artwork, having been officially acquired by LACMA in June.
Scheduled to serve as a centerpiece for the new David Geffen Galleries set to open in April 2026, the sculpture’s construction has officially begun with the assembly of a massive armature comprised of 1,800 linear feet of steel tubing and 500 planter boxes.
The planting ceremony marked the first of many as Koons collaborated for over a year with a team of landscape architects from LRM, including Kathy Wishard.
Wishard highlighted that the selected plants embody sustainability and are native to California, ensuring a vivid display with almost year-round flowering.
The sculpture will ultimately house over 50,000 flower perennials and succulents, with a carefully curated mix allowing it to thrive as a living, breathing exhibit.
Among the eclectic plants ready to be planted by the team from Pierre Landscape were varieties such as white trailing lantana, orange flame gazania rigens, and pink kaboom lampranthus.
Wishard detailed how each section of the sculpture is marked with names like “pupil,” “iris,” and “pony dark,” aligning with the vibrant color scheme that will evolve with the seasons.
She added, “Some of the flowers only open in the middle of the day so you’ll probably get the biggest burst of color when the sun is strongest, which is kind of great.”
“Split-Rocker,” designed with a cubist sensibility, uniquely merges the playful forms of a toy rocking horse and a toy dinosaur, imbuing it with a dynamic essence that transforms as the plants flourish.
“Certain plants will start to dominate a certain area, and some will be surviving and maybe blooming a little more,” Koons reflected on the nature of the evolving sculpture, suggesting it can evoke different emotional responses depending on the time of day.
Govan shared that discussions about bringing one of Koons’ living sculptures to Los Angeles began two decades ago, underscoring the long-held desire for the iconic artwork.
“I felt like when [‘Split-Rocker’] was at Rockefeller Center, it was dying to move to L.A.,” he said with a smile directed at Koons.
LACMA has acquired the exact artist proof of this captivating piece, which previously brightened the landscape of Midtown Manhattan.
Currently, Edition 1 of “Split-Rocker” can be found at Glenstone, a museum located in Potomac, Maryland.
Govan commented on the significance of LACMA’s iteration of the sculpture being more prominently placed, remarking that it now acts as a guardian-like sentry for drivers coming down Wilshire Boulevard, akin to the lions which grace the entrances of many libraries and museums.
After descending from the construction lift, Koons and Govan took a moment to walk around the sculpture, taking in its surroundings.
Govan elaborated plans for the area surrounding “Split-Rocker,” mentioning that it will feature a row of trees, steps leading toward the sculpture, and a streetside café, enhancing public accessibility and enjoyment of the piece.
Both Govan and Koons expressed their hope that ‘Split-Rocker’ would attract not just art enthusiasts but families and children, fostering a new generation of museum-goers.
“Hopefully this will create many new museumgoers,” Govan remarked, highlighting the sculpture’s potential to engage the community.
Much like Chris Burden’s famed installation “Urban Light,” “Split-Rocker” is poised to become a new landmark within Los Angeles, inviting visitors to snap photographs and share their experiences across social media platforms worldwide.
This particular sculpture joins a rich tradition of imaginative architecture characteristic of Los Angeles, especially along the storied Wilshire Boulevard, blurring the lines between Hollywood fantasy and urban design.
Govan noted the sculpture’s placement contributes to an enchanting atmosphere, standing across from the La Brea Tar Pits—home to life-sized fibreglass replicas of ancient creatures—creating a surreal backdrop against which ‘Split-Rocker’ thrives.
The scenario is ripe for cinematic storytelling, with Koons imagining an apocalyptic future where remnants of civilization remain, and “Split-Rocker” bursts forth in a riot of flowers amidst crumbling landscapes.
“A piece like this has kind of a spiritual side to it because of the link with nature,” Koons conveyed, reflecting on the duality of the piece as both an ecological statement and a mythic artifact that reflects humanity’s pursuit of cultural expression.
Following their tour, Govan and Koons ascended a staircase into the forthcoming David Geffen Galleries, emerging to find stunning light filtering through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that frame ‘Split-Rocker’ from a unique perspective.
Govan remarked on the dual nature of the piece, stating, “It’s an outdoor sculpture and indoor sculpture.”
Both men paused once again to gaze back at ‘Split-Rocker’ from the bridge overlooking the tar pits.
In just a couple of weeks, the sculpture will be fully planted and ready to embrace the vibrant ecosystem it is destined to cultivate.
image source from：latimes
