Sculpture for Palmdale Transportation Center Roundabout

Roundabouts are designed to improve traffic safety by naturally reducing vehicle speeds through their circular geometry and approach alignment. The recently renovated roundabout at the Palmdale Transportation Center serves not only as a functional traffic feature but also as a highly visible gateway to the city. Its central island has been identified as an ideal location for a public art installation that will welcome visitors and reflect Palmdale’s cultural identity. Community feedback strongly favored a sculpture that honors Palmdale’s aerospace legacy and evokes a sense of pride. Applications will be accepted from artists residing in the State of California.

Roundabouts are designed to improve traffic safety by naturally reducing vehicle speeds through their circular geometry and approach alignment. The recently renovated roundabout at the Palmdale Transportation Center serves not only as a functional traffic feature but also as a highly visible gateway to the city. Its central island has been identified as an ideal location for a public art installation that will welcome visitors and reflect Palmdale’s cultural identity. Applications will be accepted from artists residing in the State of California.

The all-inclusive budget for this project is $104,000. The budget covers the artist fee, fabrication, welding, engineering, equipment rentals, and any other expenses incurred and arranged by the artist in association with the design, fabrication, transportation, installation, lodging, and overall completion of the project. The selected artist will be required to provide insurance as outlined in the agreement and obtain a current City of Palmdale business license, as required by the Palmdale Municipal Code, prior to the commencement of the project.  All deliveries must be Free on Board (FOB) to the installation site in the City of Palmdale. The City will retain a general contractor to manage the unloading and installation of the sculpture at the roundabout, in accordance with the specifications outlined in the stamped engineered drawings. 

LINK FOR CITY OF PALMDALE BUSINESS LICENSE

Please refer to the hyperlink below to access the sample agreement and insurance requirements.

https://www.cityofpalmdaleca.gov/Public-Art-Agreement-and-Insurance-2025

Community feedback strongly favored a sculpture that honors Palmdale’s aerospace legacy and evokes a sense of pride. Participants also emphasized visual themes drawn from the local desert landscape—such as Joshua trees, yucca, poppies, and the lake—as well as the city’s iconic views of mountains, sunsets, stars, and wide blue skies.

Selected artist will receive a $450 stipend to submit a color sketch or digital image of the proposed artwork to scale. The proposals should reflect the project objectives, including theme and context within the project site, and should be respectful of the greater context of the community.  Proposed artwork must not exceed 17 feet in height, and the sculpture’s mass should not obstruct vehicle visibility within the roundabout. Proposed artwork must be family-friendly and cannot depict sexual conduct or sexually explicit nudity nor advertise any activity illegal under the laws of California or the United States.  The Panel will select proposals that best meet the City’s objectives for this project. The Public Art Commission reserves the right to contact artists prior to final selection for clarification or expansion of their proposal.

The sculpture must be an original design and must be family friendly and suitable for viewing by all ages.  Sculpture can be of any medium, but artists should consider structural and surface soundness and materials that can withstand outside and uncovered weather conditions as well as inherent resistance to theft and vandalism.  Artwork must be constructed of durable materials that are able to withstand the harsh weather conditions of the desert (high winds up to 110 mph and extreme temperatures).  Consideration should also be given to excessive maintenance and repair costs.  The selected artist will be required to outline in their proposal their history with the material as well as the suggested maintenance schedule.  The sculpture is intended to be on permanent display and should have a projected lifespan of 20-30 years.  Sculpture should not be kinetic and should not be interactive.  The sculpture must fit within an 8’ by 8’ circular footprint and should be no more than 17’ in height.  The sculpture should weigh no more than 3,000 pounds.  Sculpture must be installed in a manner with sufficient anchoring to prevent the sculpture from being removed, tipped, broken or overturned due to wind, snow load, or seismic activity.  Sculpture must comply with standard engineering practices and requirements.  If selected, the artist’s design and proposed installation plans must be formally reviewed by a California licensed engineer (hired by the artist).  Blueprints and final renderings will be required, if selected.  Any welds must be completed or inspected by a California certified welder (hired by the artist). Artwork will be evaluated to require that it does not present a hazard to public safety.

Important Dates:

November 16, 2025:      Applications due

November 25, 2025:      Review completed by Artist Selection Committee

November 26, 2025:       Artist interviews, as required

December 3, 2025:         Artists Notified

December 18, 2025:       Concept design due from selected artist

January 27, 2026:           Public Art Commission meeting

TBD:                                Installation of sculpture

The City of Palmdale is located in northern Los Angeles County and lies in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.  The City is a High Desert community sprinkled with Joshua Trees and featuring quick access to state parks and monumental desert landscapes. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles basin to the south, providing relatively quick access to the cosmopolitan amenities of Greater Los Angeles.  These characteristics and more make Palmdale an ideal place to live, work, and play, with endless possibilities to enjoy the outdoors while hiking, biking, and running.

The climate in Palmdale is very hot and dry in the summer, and chilly to cold in winter, with snowfall possible.

ARTIST RESOURCES / PALMDALE COMMUNITY:

Links regarding the community and history of the Palmdale area:

·         City of Palmdale

·         Palmdale Public Art

·         Visit Palmdale

·         Discover Palmdale

·         Local History

A complete application includes the following:

·         Artist’s resume, to include the artist’s history and experience in sculpture design, fabrication, and installation

·         6 – 10 examples of artist’s previous work showing experience in sculpture design, fabrication, and installation

·         3 professional references

·         Statement of interest about the project

The Panel will review and score submissions based on the following criteria:

·         Artists 18 years of age or older are invited to submit an individual or collaborative artist application.

·         Artist must reside in the State of California.

·         Encourage the highest level of creative engagement.

·         Select an artist whose past efforts have maintained a high level of quality.

·         Further the mission and goals of the Public Art Program and the City.

·         Identify the optimal approach that is suitable to the demands of the project.

·         Select an artist who will best respond to the distinctive characteristics of the site and the community it serves.

·         Select an artist who can work successfully as a member of an overall project team.