A 30-foot-tall fluorescent rock sculpture that attracts thousands of visitors in southern Nevada could find a new home in Washoe County.
Washoe County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve $500,000 to fund the relocation of the Seven Magic Mountains art installation to Northern Nevada. The measure opens the possibility of a move north, but the next location has yet to be decided.
The colorful sculpture is currently located in the Mojave Desert, about 10 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip.
Claire Muñoz, vice president of museum advancement and deputy director of the Nevada Museum of Art, told commissioners that the sculpture must be relocated by the end of 2026 to make room for future development in the area. Clark County is working to expand its aviation operations in the Ivanpah Valley south of Las Vegas.
“The installation consists of seven towers of colorful, stacked boulders carved from Nevada limestone and is more than 30 feet tall,” she said. “It is an expression of human presence in the landscape and celebrates the rich diversity of Nevada’s residents and visitors.”
The colorful exhibition by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone opened in Southern Nevada in 2016. It was produced by the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno and the Art Production Fund.
The sculpture was originally intended to be exhibited for two years.
“Due to its popularity and the significant international attention that Seven Magic Mountains continues to receive, the artist has expressed a desire to explore options to keep the artwork in the state of Nevada,” Muñoz said.
The exhibition attracts about 1,000 visitors a day, she said. The Bureau of Land Management’s permit expires in 2026.
“Today, the Nevada Museum of Art strives to preserve the heritage of the Seven Magic Mountains while bringing its cultural and economic benefits to Washoe County,” Muñoz told commissioners during a meeting Tuesday.
Funding for the sculpture’s relocation will come from money the county will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The federal funds would support the removal, transportation and reinstallation of the artwork in Washoe County. Possible locations in Washoe were not presented at the meeting, and it is still undetermined where it will go next.
Commissioners approved the funding, along with 11 other projects totaling about $3.2 million, at their meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Mike Clark voted in favor despite his dissatisfaction with some issues, including the cost of moving the sculpture. Vice Chair Jeanne Herman opposed the approval.
