In 2026, internationally acclaimed sculptor Cliff Garten will unveil four new public artworks across the United States, including a major installation in Burbank, California. Known for his sweeping integration of sculpture, infrastructure, and landscape, Garten has spent decades reimagining what civic art can be—not merely adornment, but a catalyst for connection, reflection, and transformation in the built environment. As cities grapple with questions of identity, accessibility, and the evolving role of public space, Garten’s work offers a compelling vision: public art that not only inhabits space, but fundamentally reshapes how we experience it.
In this exclusive Culturalee interview, Garten shares his insights on the power of sculpture in civic life, the ideas behind his upcoming installations, and how each piece reflects his belief that public art must do more than stand out—it must speak to and for the communities it serves.