El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition 2025-2026
A virtual, guided tour of south Palm Desert's premier sculpture display.
El Paseo is the premier shopping district in Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley, located in southern California. The biennial El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition consists of eighteen (18) sculptures installed on lit concrete pads located in the median between Highway 74 and Portola Ave.
How does it work? Every two years a call for entries is announced and artists submit sculptures for potential inclusion in the next exhibition. Sculptures are juried by the City's Cultural Arts Committee and reviewed for final approval by the Palm Desert City Council. Once installed, the artwork remains on display for approximately two years.
Artwork is available for private purchase. Please contact the artist directly, with the information provided.
For information about our previous 2023/2024 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition, please click here . Sculptures may be available for purchase. Please contact the artist directly.
Over the Falls
Alex Gall Steel, Oxidized Steel, Clear Coat 96" x 40" x 20"
"Over the Falls" captures the raw power and energy of a segmented moment of being caught in the force of a breaking wave. This kinetic metal sculpture mimics the turbulent motion of water as it tumbles and crashes. Its dynamic elements are designed to move with the wind, reflecting the chaotic yet beautiful moment when a surfer is swept over the wave's lip. The sculpture's metallic surfaces catch the light, creating shifting reflections that evoke the shimmer and fluidity of the ocean, blending the energy of surfing with the grace of modern art.
Growing Wings
Hilde DeBruyne Painted Metal 8' x 4'
“Growing Wings” is a contemporary metal sculpture, inspired by the Metamorphosis of butterflies. It is designed to be a captivating interactive experience for the viewers , inviting them to walk around the sculpture and observe it from different angles. The changing perspectives reflect the transformation of the butterfly. By observing butterflies, we can reflect on our own lives where moments of change, growth and vulnerability shape us and transform us into the person we become.
$22,000
Living Steel
Diego Harris Corten Steel and Steel Rebar Structure 9.8' x 6.3' x 3.5'
Living Steel is an abstract sculpture that is made of corten steel with an internal structure of steel rebar. The rebar structure is first welded together and serves as a scaffold for the corten paneling, which is first traced out with paper before being cut with a plasma cutter and then welded to the rebar with corten welding wire. Corten is a type of steel that has alloys of copper, chromium and other such metals which help it to form a protective rust patina that inhibits the formation of deeper, more damaging rust.
I take my inspiration for my sculptures from the shapes and patterns found in nature. I am very attracted to spirals as well as the graceful curves of plant and animal life as well as patterns formed by flowing water. I strive to blend these more natural designs with the harder and more industrial qualities of my chosen materials.
My goal with "Living Steel" was to create a sculpture that was very energetic and seemed to be growing out of the ground. It could be seen as being plant-like or also like an undulating serpent. Your interpretation is just as valid as mine and I encourage you to find your own meaning in its design.
Gilded Godiva
Karen & Tony Barone Aluminum 8.1' x 4.3' x 6.8'
Artists Karen & Tony Barone have created a romantic dramatic sculpture of a gold winged horse with a silver female rider. They have combined two classic tales, that of the Greek mythological flying horse Pegasus, which brought lightning to Mount Olympus and Lady Godiva, the 13th century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who rode a horse naked thru the streets of an English village. The Barones use Karen's likeness to represent Godiva, light and graceful in appearance. "Gilded Godiva" appears about to soar.
The Barone's original technique, applying thin layers of transparent automotive paint over specially treated finished aluminum, yields a light refracted and reflective finish which shimmers in the sunlight.
ABOUT the ARTISTS
Karen & Tony Barone, the Coachella Valley artist couple whose work can be seen throughout the Desert, the USA, and globally in North & South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are best known for creating large scale high-color outdoor metal sculpture. Karen further expresses herself creating complex entertaining performance art videos & Tony passionately creates large contemporary oil paintings.
In My Element
Lovemore Bonjisi Cobalt Stone 68" x 48" x 16"
"In My Element" by Lovemore Bonjisi is a six-foot tall stone sculpture of a mermaid throwing her head back with a top-hat. Her gesture is playful and seductive. She stands for confidence, beauty, and self-expression. The natural purple and burgundy tones of the cobalt stone mimic the surrounding amethyst mountains of the Coachella Valley.
Lovemore Bonjisi (b. 1983) is an internationally recognized stone sculptor living in Zimbabwe. In the Shona Sculpture tradition, Lovemore has carved “In My Element” from a single boulder of cobalt stone using hammers, chisels and rasping sticks. No power-tools were used to carve this artwork.
Bonjisi is a master at using the veining and coloring of natural stone to emphasize details alternating broad and thin contour lines. Many of his works are figurative, mainly women, showing movement through sweeping lines that seemingly lighten the massive weight of the stone he selects. This lightness creates a spiritual and ethereal quality, as if the stone becomes part of air itself.
Lovemore Bonjisi is represented by Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, where you can find other works at 73-375 El Paseo, Suite A (760) 674-8989.
Artemis
Lyle London Copper with Patina 96" x 30" x 30"
ARTEMIS is fabricated entirely from copper plate. It fits within a period of my work characterized by anthropomorphic abstraction. Copper presents an array of welding and grinding challenges but rewards the artist with its unmatched plasticity and extreme weather resistance. I have patinated this piece several times, the current coloration is my favorite by far.
Water Totem
Anne Faith Nicholls Wood, Steel, Concrete, Fiberglass, Paint 8' x 2'
Water Totem is a 10’ tall, 1-ton steel cylindrical totem commemorating and contemplating the conservation of the desert’s most precious natural resource: Water. Wrapped in the recognizable painted waves of artist Anne Faith Nicholls, the sculpture is entirely accessible and viewable in-the-round. Water Totem is a modern, industrial take on classical columns and indigenous totem poles, completed with a hand-painted finish that appears to undulate, shift, and recede as one moves by.
About The Artist: Anne Faith Nicholls is an American contemporary artist recognized for her Neosurrealistic paintings and sculptures. Her work has been exhibited in museums, galleries, collections, and art fairs around the world, and she’s contributed to a variety of high-profile publications and commercial projects with renowned collaborators. Often exploring the subconscious, her works are layered and mysterious, creating symbolic narratives on the human condition. Inspired by Surrealism and Folk Art, she combines her classical training with ingenuity and craftsmanship to create artworks in a variety of mediums, with her unique perspective ever-present. Anne Faith Nicholls is an honored alumni of The Academy of Art University, and has since traveled the world to study the masterworks of art and architecture. She is the founder of the former CURIO Studio & Collection, the legendary Venice Beach project space responsible for showcasing noteworthy exhibitions and emerging artists. Currently based in Palm Springs, California, Anne Faith Nicholls continues to create, exhibit and collaborate with creative partners and patrons, both stateside and abroad.
Vortex of Creation
Ivan Butorac Powder Coated Steel, Tempered Glass Prints, LED lights, Aluminum 8' x 6'
Artist statement "Art is about creating a space for the viewer. It is the discovery of one's own possibilities. It's about freedom, self expression, following your interests and going beyond the rational mind. I am interested in bringing light into the world." -Ivan Butorac
I discovered the power art and color have on human emotion and mood at an early age and I've been chasing that feeling ever since.
I would like to take you on a journey of Ancient Egypt and Mayan civilization but also deepen the myth of ancient aliens who came in the pyramids of light. I want to build one of those pyramids. The work is meant to produce a healing vibration and connect to other structures around the globe with a similar vibration.
Part of my “God Particle” series This series consists of digital collages made out of original photographs created with mathematical precision. Every piece draws you in and creates a portal to subconscious mind. We as humans are considered very intelligent spices and are able build computers and go the moon and time a landing with a precision of a fraction of a second. Yet we are still in the dark when it comes to some of the most important questions: "Where do we come from?", "What are we doing here?", "What is the meaning of life?" and "What happens to us when we die?"
This series is dedicated to depending the questions and maybe just maybe provide a glimpse into the answers and begins to scratch the surface of a mystery so wast that has puzzled the human mind since the dawn of time.
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration." Nikola Tesla
Ode to Calder II
CJ Rench Mild Steel 8.5' X 7.5' X 4.5'
Before I became a full-time artist, I was a collector and admirer of all things Alexander Calder. He was the one artist that seemed to add joy to his using primary colors in his work and make it noticeable for kids from 2 – 92.
As I began my career I always a hoped joy could be added and designed into my work also. I try to create works that speak to viewers of all ages and allow them to talk about it together. Artwork to engage and inspire, instigate a community connection, and most of all be inclusive.
This is a body my body of work to honor the fun that Calder started!
“Life is colorful, joyful & exhilarating why shouldn’t your art be?”
Nine Ancestral Feathers
Adrian Litman Stainless Steel 14' x 8' x 8'
Creating Public Artwork gives me a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history and particular cultures of various cities where I do art installations. I visited the city of Palm Desert many times and participated in the temporary art installations program on El paseo. One thing I learned about the history of Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley is the presence of the native Indian population organized in nine tribes.
Learning about the significant symbols in the tribes cultures, I found that the eagle feather is deeply revered and represents high honor, power, wisdom, trust, strength, and freedom. In my search for inspiration to create an art piece for display on El Paseo, I picked the shape of the eagle feather as the symbolic element in the Nine Ancestral Feathers stainless steel sculpture to celebrate the nine federally recognized Native Tribal nations presence in the area : Agua Caliente, Augustine, Cahuilla, Cabazon, Los Coyotes, Morongo, Ramona, Santa Rosa, and Torres Martinez.
Spiral Dance
Harold Linke Carbon Fiber 144" x 46" x 57"
I created Spiral Dance to invite you to joy and excitement. I wanted you to feel an explosion commanding the dance stage, that feel from the opening fanfare, the most exciting and inviting moment of any performance when the audience startles to attention to see and engage with the spectacle before them.
Any sculpture captures a still point—that instant between what was and what is-to-come. I struggled with the many dance moments to find the exact middle for an energetic beginning and ending. That stumped me until a friend mentioned that I could offer two moments.
I borrowed the obvious flourish dancers use to invoke the starry heavens, that toe to fingertip straight up stretch. The raised leg belies the movements before and after. There’s my energy.
Nice, but gathering the audience remains the second purpose of any fanfare. I hit on the point. Literally, the point. She stretches to point her finger towards you, aiming her gaze through her fingertip in an invitation for you to join in and become part of the energy of the performance to come. With her hands telling the story, my hands could begin the sculpting.
Hopes and Dreams
Tim Shockley Steel with paint and clearcoat 38" X 24" with base
"Hopes and Dreams" is a thought-provoking sculpture that invites viewers to reflect on their own life journeys. Crafted from unlikely materials, it resonates with our innermost desires and serves as a powerful reminder that beauty and meaning can emerge from what is often overlooked or discarded.
This artwork fosters a dialogue about our collective aspirations and the courage it takes to purse them. By confronting the themes of hope and resilience, "Hopes and Dreams" encourages personal reflection, inviting each individual to recognize the potential for transformation in both art and life.
Infinity
Ray Katz Painted Steel 8' x 8' x 8'
My sculpture, "Infinity", has the feeling of internal interaction as it folds and rotates within its cosmic sphere of development. Color has become a prominent aspect of my recent work. The contrasting colors integrate and emphasize the structural organization of the elements in my composition.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Patricia Vader Powder Coated Steel 63" x 63" x 63"
This is an exuberant and feisty sculpture with an appearance of lace-like delicacy that is belied by its strong structural integrity that allows for easy lifting and handling. It is made entirely with bicycle wheels that are bolted and welded together. Open and closed at the same time, with escape routes from the inside out everywhere as exemplified by the jutting-out middle wheels, the sculpture reflects and celebrates human life: it can be seen as an open vessel or a cage, organized yet full of unexpected possibilities, fragile-looking and yet incredibly sturdy.
On a more down to earth level we can look at it as an evocation of the earth itself: the sphere-like sculpture has five horizontal bands of wheels like the five latitude regions of the earth: Arctic and Antarctic circles, Cancer and Capricorn tropics and the equatorial region. This playful and complex artwork can be looked at in many different ways and is open to many interpretations. It also projects an elegant pattern of shadows.
Extended Expanse
Jennifer Kapnek Aluminum, Steel, Wood, Acrylic, Finish 8' x 7' x 4'
Extended Expanse is painted in a vibrant orange to yellow gradient. Each of the four corners is joined by a kiln-dried Port Orford cedar. The tree is captured within the structure and is the central form that each side and corner grows from. One view is a mountain landscape dotted with stars. The opposite view is a closer portrait of a tree with leaves both attached and flying. Each of the shorter views contain a mix of elements from the longer sides, and each corner serves to connect the whole story.
The piece is constructed from two aluminum panels which intersect and create an X. The central tree has been quartered, reassembled and bolted through the structure. Hidden behind the tree is a steel armature which supports the weight of the piece. Extended Expanse is anchored to a steel base. The completed piece seemingly floats across the air.
Flora
Ray Katz Stainless Steel 9' x 9' 5.8'
"Flora" is an abstract composition of geometric and organic shapes representing “Forms” in Nature”. The dynamic nature of things that grow exemplifies our connection to nature. Nature embrace’s us, stimulates us and satisfies us.
My studio is in a natural setting with many things that grow. The shapes and forms in nature sometimes influence my work. Creation of art and especially sculpture is undeniable language of awareness. As an act of transcendence, shape and form offers a form liberation and tranquility Visual media and nature offers us an unrestrained opportunity to engage in our surroundings.
Tower of Color and Light
Charles Sherman Welded stainless steel substrate with stained glass, crystals, fossils and mirrors 10' x 18" x 1"
Champion
Russell Whiting Torch carved steel plate 72" x 54" x 35"
My sculpture, "The Champion" is a tribute to all the strong women that have influenced and encouraged me throughout my life.
I liked the idea of a conquering heroic female figure standing on the horse, instead of the historically ubiquitous male. This sculpture is made of 2 and 3 inch thick plate steel that is layered and welded together to make a solid block that can then be carved and shaped with an oxyacetylene torch. Torch carving leaves its signature gouges and rippled textures that can be found in any heavy industrial fabrication yard. I leave the markings to celebrate and emphasize the raw beauty and immense strength of steel. So, the metaphor is the woman represents beauty, grace and art while the horse represents the strength, utility and reliability of steel.