The 202 lamp posts were collected by Chris Burden from street light collections in Southern California, Portland, and Detroit.
The restoration process involved stripping the lamps down to the metal, re-wiring them, and painting them all a uniform 'LACMA grey'.
Each lamp is fitted with a light sensor to ensure they turn on and off automatically based on ambient natural light.
The installation was initially intended to be a temporary exhibit but became a permanent fixture due to public demand.
The lamps represent 17 different unique street lamp styles from the 1920s and 1930s.
Urban Light is a large-scale assemblage of 202 historically significant cast-iron street lamps installed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Created by artist Chris Burden in 2008, the installation features restored lamps from various cities across the United States. The lamps are arranged in a grid-like pattern on the museum's plaza. They serve as both a public sculpture and an entrance feature for the museum campus. The work utilizes a variety of lamp designs, reflecting different historical periods and regional styles. It is permanently situated on the Wilshire Boulevard side of the LACMA grounds. The installation is fully automated to switch on at dusk and off at dawn. It is recognized as a major landmark of Los Angeles public art.
Position yourself in the center of the grid for a symmetrical perspective, or from the perimeter looking through the dense forest of poles.
Visit during the blue hour just after sunset to see the lamps glowing against the darkening sky.
The installation is accessible 24 hours a day, even when the main museum buildings are closed.
Look at the base of the lamps to identify the diverse casting dates and regional manufacturing origins.
Do not attempt to climb or hang from the lamp posts, as they are historic artifacts and structurally fragile.
