Urban Light

[detail view]
"Urban Light" is an assemblage sculpture by Chris Burden of 202 restored vintage lampposts from the 1920s and 1930s. The lampposts are cast iron and range from 20 to 30 feet in height; many have been salvaged from Los Angeles neighborhoods. The sculpture's placement between the Wilshire Blvd. sidewalk and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's entrance was central to Burden's intention of enhancing the Museum's empty plaza space with a highly engaging and visible public artwork.

Since its 2008 installation, Burden's "Urban Light" has become one of Los Angeles' most popular and iconic public artworks, with critics rating its popularity as unprecedented in the Los Angeles region. It attracts large numbers of daily visitors and tourists, and has been featured as a backdrop in films, events and even weddings. The public art sculpture includes dusk-to-dawn solar-powered lighting.