LACMA Acquires Jeff Koons 37-Foot Living Sculpture for New Building

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will install Jeff Koons' monumental living sculpture, Split-Rocker, outside its new David Geffen Galleries building in late 2025. Standing 37 feet tall and adorned with over 50,000 drought-tolerant and flowering plants, the sculpture merges the heads of a child's rocking horse and a dinosaur toy into a surreal hybrid that changes with the seasons, reflecting Koons' blend of playfulness and deeper artistic meaning. Donated by longtime patrons Lynda and Stewart Resnick, Split-Rocker will anchor the museum's outdoor public art program, enhancing the 3.5-acre park and open space around the new building designed by Peter Zumthor, which opens in 2026. This version is an artist’s proof adapted for Southern California’s climate with an internal irrigation system, allowing it to thrive year-round, unlike previous installations in harsher climates. LACMA CEO Michael Govan highlighted how the piece interacts with its environment and serves as a living gift to the city, continuing the Resnicks' legacy of support and stewardship of the museum. The sculpture’s history includes notable installations at Versailles, Rockefeller Center, and other prestigious locations, and it will be a prominent, dynamic feature visible from Wilshire Boulevard, symbolizing LACMA’s transformation and civic presence.