Summary

The Seven Magic Mountains is a vibrant art installation by Ugo Rondinone, located in the Nevada desert, which has been extended until 2026 and offers a juxtaposition of the natural and artificial, drawing crowds for its visual and spiritual impact.

Abstract

The Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation situated in the desert outside Las Vegas, Nevada, consisting of colorful, stacked boulders reaching up to 30 feet high. Created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, the installation was intended to be a temporary exhibit but has been extended for public viewing until 2026. It serves as a symbolic bridge between the natural desert landscape and the human-made environment, represented by the nearby I-15 highway and the flow of traffic between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The installation, which cost $3 million and took four years to construct, has become a popular destination for visitors seeking a spiritual experience or the perfect Instagram photo. The author recommends visiting early in the day to avoid crowds and heat, especially during spring or fall.

Opinions

The author enjoys the spiritual and whimsical nature of the Seven Magic Mountains, considering it a refuge where life can be savored.
The author's husband is less enthusiastic about stopping at the installation, preferring to continue driving.
The installation's location between the natural and artificial is seen as intentional and symbolic, enhancing the viewing experience.
The author expresses surprise at the $3 million cost of the installation but acknowledges its magnetic allure up close.
The author notes the installation's ability to evoke child-like wonder and leave a lasting impression, emphasizing the power of art.
The presence of a man with a snake for photos is mentioned as an odd but notable aspect of the visitor experience.
The author suggests that the installation may not remain permanently, encouraging readers to visit while they can.
The author invites readers to subscribe to Medium through their referral link for continued access to their articles, indicating a personal investment in the platform and their readership.

The Seven Magic Mountains

A whimsical and colorful display that is pleasant for the eyes and soul

The rocks that look like they are balancing — Photo Credit: Author

“Stopping is a spiritual art. It is the refuge where we drink life in.” — Sue Monk Kidd

On our way to Las Vegas from Southern California, we decided to stop at this art installation in the middle of the desert.

The Seven Magic Mountains are outside Las Vegas, Nevada, located 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

My husband never wants to stop here because he is either tired of driving or wants to get home.

We were stuck in traffic for a bit because some guy thought he should cut through the sandy middle divider and got his nice Range Rover stuck in the sand.

All the looky-loos had a field day.

After a 4-hour drive turned into 5 hours, we were ready to face the sweltering heat to see these magnificent structures.

The Seven Magic Mountains — Photo Credit: Author

These stacked, painted rocks are an art installation by renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone.

Seven colorful stacked boulders were placed in an intentional space.

“The location is physically and symbolically between the natural and artificial — the natural expressed by mountain ranges and Jean Dry Lake, and the artificial represented by nearby I-15 and the constant flow of traffic between Los Angeles and Vegas.”

This art installation was complete in 2016 and was only supposed to have a 2-year run but they’ve extended the life of the artwork until 2026.

These boulders that are stacked 30 feet high are showing the difference between artificial and natural, with all of the elements of the desert and human life in the distance.

He makes it a point to share that the reasoning behind the art is to contrast the artificial and natural, the difference in human nature, and the then and now.

The concept

The concept all stemmed from his art installation at Rockefeller Center in New York City called the “Human Nature” expedition. These rocks are stacked similarly but resemble human bodies.

The building of the art installation

A boulder was carefully chosen for each stack, some 4–5 boulders high. After that, each boulder was cored, meaning a hole was drilled right through the middle.

Each boulder was stacked together using a steel pipe through the core to construct a tall rock sculpture. After construction, the boulders were painted in a colorful neon scheme.

The whole installation took 4 years to construct and cost $3 million dollars.

Really? 3 million dollars?

It is a magical sight to be seen up close, instead of our previous years of driving by, with the mini rocks off in the distance.

They can leave you feeling spiritual and full of child-like wonder after viewing.

Art is weird that way, it can leave a lasting impression on you in ways that you didn’t conceive.

The bright towers bring in daily crowds trying to get their perfect Instagram shot.

Author at the Seven Magic Mountains — Photo Credit: Author

There was even a man with a snake, ready to offer it up in exchange for money.

I mean, who doesn’t want a picture with a snake in front of crayon-colored rocks?

If you are going to visit the Seven Magic Mountains, I suggest going early in the day, to beat the heat and the crowds. We arrived at 1 pm in the afternoon and it was very crowded and hot.

The spring and fall would be an ideal time to seek serenity with fewer crowds to view the stunning art installation.

Hurry up though, because these won’t stick around forever.

Have you had the opportunity to visit or is it on your bucket list?

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Thanks for reading!

Much love, Michele