UTEP to Get Sebastián Public Art Sculpture

One of the world’s most renowned public artists will create a sculpture to honor the University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP) centennial, the school announced last week. Mexican sculptor Sebastián will create the piece titled Esfera Cuántica Tlahtolli for UTEP on behalf of the people of Mexico via the Consul General of Mexico in El Paso.

This concept image shows the size of the sculpture that will sit in front of the Fox Fine Arts Center. (UTEP)

The sculpture, which has a generally spherical form with undulating lines formed by intersecting and morphed cones, will be 13 feet in diameter when completed and will be placed at the entrance of the Fox Fine Arts Center on UTEP’s campus. A smaller scale version was on hand last week at the announcement which was attended by the artist himself.

The Mexican gift is a symbol of friendship between the United States and Mexico, and between UTEP and the Mexican students that have been part of the university since its inception.

Sebastián attended the announcement ceremony at UTEP.

Sebastián has received acclaim for his public art pieces for decades, and recently received local notoriety for his large-scale sculpture in Juarez called La Equis, the red ‘X’ visible from many parts of the binational community.

“I am extremely honored that UTEP has accepted this gift from Mexico,” Sebastián stated during the announcement ceremony, according to UTEP News Service. “This quantic sphere symbolizes the good relationship that exists between the people of my country and Texas, as well as the dreams and great achievements that through communication and education we are called to accomplish together.”

The final sculpture should be completed in 2014, and will be dedicated as part of the Centennial Celebration.