Amargosa Sculpture Garden

Overview

The Amargosa Creek Trail is a 50-acre nature trail featuring century-old Joshua and Juniper trees, plant placards, storyboards, trailheads, seating, educational signage, fitness equipment, and a bicycle repair station. Four sculptures by different artists will be installed on concrete pads for three years, with new works rotating in afterward. The City of Palmdale is located in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California, a High Desert community with quick access to state parks and monumental desert landscapes.

Eligibility

Applications are open to artists residing in the State of California. Selected artists must obtain a current City of Palmdale business license and provide insurance as specified in the agreement.

Artwork Requirements

Sculptures must be original designs that are family-friendly, suitable for viewing by all ages, and respectful of the broader community context. Works may not depict sexual conduct, sexually explicit nudity, or promote illegal activity. All artworks must meet public safety standards for placement in an open, publicly accessible environment.

Technical & Material Specifications

Sculptures can be of any medium but must be constructed of durable materials that withstand harsh desert weather conditions (high winds up to 110 mph and extreme temperatures). Artists should consider structural soundness and inherent resistance to theft and vandalism. If kinetic or interactive, sculptures must be safe for public use and require no maintenance from City staff.

Size & Installation Requirements

Sculptures must fit within an 8' by 8' footprint and should be no more than 17' in height. Sculptures should weigh no more than 3,000 pounds. Sculptures must be installed with sufficient anchoring to prevent removal, tipping, breaking, or overturning due to wind, snow load, or seismic activity. All designs must be formally reviewed by a California licensed engineer. Any welds must be inspected by a California certified welder. Blueprints and final renderings will be required if selected. All deliveries must be Free on Board (FOB) to the installation site.

Key Dates

• August 7, 2026: Applications due
• August 10, 2026: Artist Selection Committee meeting
• August 20, 2026: Artist Selection Committee review completed
• August 27, 2026: Artist interviews, as needed
• September 25, 2026: City review
• October 6, 2026: Preliminary artist notification
• November 24, 2026: Public Art Commission meeting
• TBD: Installation of sculptures

Submission Requirements

Submit images of sculptural works that are available and ready for installation. Selected artists must provide insurance as specified in the agreement. The all-inclusive budget for this project is $10,000 per selected artist, covering the artist's fee, installation plan, artwork engineering, welding certification (if applicable), transportation, installation, lodging, removal at the end of the three-year installation period, and overall project completion.

Contact

• Email: gdavis@cityofpalmdaleca.gov
• Phone: 661-267-5611