Stunning 58-foot-tall sculpture unveiled at Burning Man coming to ‘art park’ near Denver
A massive 58-foot-tall sculpture that was initially unveiled at Nevada’s Burning Man festival in 2024 is set to find its permanent home in Colorado.
Dubbed ‘Liberty,’ the sculpture – created by Belgian contemporary artist Michael Benisty – is perhaps best described as a ‘modern interpretation’ of the Statue of Liberty, meant to be a symbol of unity, courage, and hope. It will be erected in Hogan Park at Highlands Creek at The Aurora Highlands, joining what’s been described as an “award-winning and widely recognized public art collection.”
Artist Benisty has another work of art that’s already made its debut at the park – the 25-foot-tall ‘Broken But Together‘ sculpture. The park is home to dozens of other permanent pieces by various artists, including ‘Umi,’ a piece by Daniel Popper that went viral when it was unveiled in 2023.
“The developers of The Aurora Highlands are passionate art advocates who believe in making meaningful, large-scale art accessible to the public,” reads a press release about the latest addition to the collection. “Each installation is chosen to reflect themes of resilience, hope and introspection.”
‘Liberty’ was first spotted at Burning Man by Carla Ferreira, the CEO of The Aurora Highlands and the brain behind commissioning all of the park’s permanent art installations.
“When I first saw Liberty at Burning Man, I was deeply moved,” said Ferreria. “I knew instantly it belonged at The Aurora Highlands. Aurora is such a vibrant, diverse city that embraces people from all walks of life, so what better place for a modern reimagining of Lady Liberty than right here in our own backyard? From the very beginning, my vision has been to build a community where everyone feels like they belong. That’s why we’ve prioritized housing at every price point and made our public art program free and accessible to all. Liberty is a powerful reflection of that vision and the inclusive spirit that defines this community and Aurora as a whole.”
The installation of ‘Liberty’ is set to start at 8 a.m. on May 3. The process should be wrapped up later in the day.
The Aurora Highlands is a 4,000-acre master planned community between the Aurora metro area and Denver International Airport. With more than 12,500 housing units, the community also has 21 miles of trail, 12 neighborhood parks, and 20 ‘pocket parks.’ The long-term plan for Hogan Park features performance plazas, climbing walls, gardens, and a zip line, in addition to the collection of art.
Learn more about The Aurora Highlands ‘Art in the Park’ initiative here.
