Popular art display in Southern Nevada may be relocated to Washoe County

A 30-foot fluorescent rock sculpture that draws thousands of visitors in Southern Nevada may 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 action opens the possibility it will move north, but its next stop has yet to be decided.

The multi-colored sculpture is currently housed in the Mojave Desert, about 10 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip.

Claire Muñoz, vice president of museum advancement and deputy director at the Nevada Museum of Art, told commissioners the sculpture must be moved by the end of 2026 to make way for future development in the area. Clark County is working to expand its aviation footprint in the Ivanpah Valley, just south of Las Vegas.

“The installation is comprised of seven towers of colorful stacked boulders carved from Nevada limestone and stands more than 30 feet high,” she said. “It is an expression of human presence in the landscape and celebrates the rich diversity of Nevada’s residents and visitors alike.”

The colorful display, created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, opened in Southern Nevada in 2016. It was produced by Reno’s Nevada Museum of Art and the Art Production Fund.

The sculpture was initially planned to be on display for two years.

“Due to its popularity and significant international attention that Seven Magic Mountains continues to garner, the artist has expressed a desire to explore opportunities to keep the artwork in the state of Nevada,” Muñoz said.

The display attracts about 1,000 visitors a day, she said. Its permit with the Bureau of Land Management expires in 2026.

“Today, the Nevada Museum of Art is committed to preserving the legacy of Seven Magic Mountains while bringing its cultural and economic benefits to Washoe County,” Muñoz told commissioners during a Tuesday meeting.

Funding for relocating the sculpture will come from dollars received by the county from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The federal dollars would assist the removal, transportation and reinstallation of the artwork in Washoe County. Possible locations in Washoe were not presented at the meeting, and it’s still undetermined as to where it will head next.

The commissioners approved the funding alongside 11 other projects totaling about $3.2 million at Tuesday’s meeting. Commissioner Mike Clark, despite his dissatisfaction with some of the items, including the cost of relocating sculpture, voted in favor. Vice Chair Jeanne Herman opposed the the approval.