North Valley Neighbors Get New Art Public Art Installation

A striking new sculpture now graces Albuquerque’s North Valley, honoring the rhythms of nature and the beauty of flight. Today, the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts & Culture and the Albuquerque Arts Board unveiled Gliding Flight, a mesmerizing steel sculpture by Taos Pueblo artist Sean Rising Sun Flanagan, just in time for the annual spring migration of Canadian geese.

"The community of the North Valley has a deep appreciation for both nature and creativity, and this sculpture truly reflects the natural beauty of the area," said Mayor Tim Keller. "It serves as a reminder of the connection between our modern daily lives in the city and the wildlife that surrounds us."

Nestled in the roundabout at Rio Grande Blvd and Candelaria NW, Gliding Flight emerged from a community-driven vision. Neighbors and nature lovers reached out to the City, seeking public art that reflects the rich wildlife and plant life of the nearby Bosque. This sculpture answers that call, capturing the elegance and movement of the geese that travel through New Mexico along the Central Flyway, a vital migratory path in North America.

"I draw inspiration from the traditional images of my Native American roots which unites deep tradition with the contemporary," said Sean Flanagan.

Commissioned by the Albuquerque Arts Board, Gliding Flight consists of two intersecting, stylized depictions of a Canadian goose, transforming dynamically as viewers move around the roundabout. Its presence not only celebrates the migratory birds that frequent the area but also serves as a striking gateway to the renowned Rio Grande Nature Center State Park.

Flanagan, a Taos Pueblo artist, infuses his work with the traditional imagery of his Native American heritage. His sculptures blend geometric and organic elements, creating a bold harmony of form and color. With Gliding Flight, he invites the community to pause, reflect, and connect with the natural world in a new and meaningful way.