AURORA | A towering new sculpture is set for installation in northeast Aurora this week, adding to what has become one of the largest public art displays in the state.
The 23-foot stainless steel piece, titled “Ethereal Bliss,” will be installed Thursday and Friday at The Aurora Highlands, east of Denver International Airport.
The work by nationally recognized sculptor Hunter Brown will anchor a roundabout in the growing housing development’s future retail district.
The installation is part of the community’s Art in the Park program, a growing collection of large-scale works that now includes more than 20 permanent pieces spread throughout Hogan Park at Highlands Creek.
The collection has evolved into one of the most ambitious, and largest, public art displays in the state.
“Ethereal Bliss” stands 23 feet tall and 16 feet wide, designed to resemble ribbons of energy rising and unfurling in motion, Highlands officials said in a statement
The sculpture was engineered using computational design and constructed from more than 250 laser-cut stainless steel components joined by nearly 2,000 feet of welded seams, according to artist information.
The piece is being transported roughly 1,300 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas, and it will be installed using two cranes.
The sculpture marks Brown’s third installation in the Aurora park, joining “Life Blood,” a 28-foot ribbon sculpture at a community entry roundabout, and “Asclepius,” a steel work inspired by the ancient Greek symbol of healing.
Once in place, “Ethereal Bliss” will join other notable works in the collection, including “Liberty,” installed in May 2025, and the widely shared “Umi” sculpture.
Developer Carla Ferreira says the goal is to integrate art into daily life, placing large-scale works along trails, parks and gathering spaces where residents and visitors encounter them organically.
The Aurora Highlands spans about 4,000 acres in northeast Aurora and is planned to include more than 11,000 homes, along with parks, trails and future schools. Hogan Park covers nearly 100 acres and is expected to incorporate additional recreational and cultural features as development continues, Aurora Highlands officials said.