The University of Texas at Austin is set to welcome a new public art installation designed by renowned artist Maya Lin, known for her iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Lin’s latest endeavor, titled “Floating Landscape,” will span 3,600 square feet and is being developed in collaboration with the university’s public art program.
Situated in a revitalized meadow near Waller Creek and the Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building at the intersection of 24th and San Jacinto streets, the installation is designed to be an immersive experience. Andrée Bober, the founding director and curator of Landmarks, UT’s public art initiative, described the piece as an environment that invites interaction. “Maya Lin created this meadow of natural grasses and plants, and rising out of this environment is this gentle sculptural form that people can walk across and gather on during the day,” she explained, emphasizing the harmonious blend of sculpture and landscape.
At night, “Floating Landscape” will illuminate the area with LED lights that recreate the constellations visible on the date the university was established. The installation is expected to be unveiled in April.
Lin expressed her artistic vision, stating, “Much of my work begins with the landscape and the experience of moving through space. This project grew out of the ecology of the site and the openness of the Texas sky, creating a gathering place within the daily life of the university.”
The artist, who first captured national attention at the age of 21 with her design for the Vietnam Wall, will incorporate native grasses and plants in collaboration with urban design firm Lionheart Places and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Bober noted that stormwater management was a critical aspect of the project; the meadow is designed to absorb excess water, mitigate erosion, and restore the natural habitat.
Funding for the artwork comes from the university’s Art in Public Spaces policy, which allocates 1-2% of capital improvement projects for public art initiatives. With the Cockrell School of Engineering constructing a new facility, the Landmarks program began exploring potential artists for the site, and Lin was identified as an ideal candidate. “Maya Lin was just a natural choice,” Bober said, praising her unique ability to integrate art, architecture, landscape design, and environmental considerations.
“She has this ability to move between art and architecture and landscape design and environmental thinking. And that felt especially right… because that’s how engineers work: They solve problems creatively. And that’s how Maya approached the site,” Bober added.
The upcoming “Floating Landscape” marks Lin’s first public art project in Texas. The Landmarks program provided her with considerable creative freedom, which resulted in a more ambitious vision than initially anticipated. “Maya came back with something a lot more ambitious than what we had imagined initially,” Bober remarked. “She designed this work of art that could also restore the landscape and create a gathering place.”
Construction of the sculpture is currently underway, and the meadow will be developed over the next few months. An opening celebration is planned for April 9, featuring a discussion between Lin and art historian Jana La Brasca.
