The Metal Sculptures of Anza Borrego Springs features over 130 large metal art sculptures on desert estate land that consists of many separate plots in Borrego Springs, California.
The sculptures were created by Southern California artist Ricardo Breceda, who was commissioned by Dennis Avery, the owner of Galleta Meadows, to add free standing art to his property. The first sculpture appeared on the property in 2008 and has grown to hundreds over the course of many years.
Over the long stretch of 15 miles, the artwork ranges from prehistoric mammals to historical characters, fanciful dinosaurs, and a 350-foot-long magnificent serpent.
Galleta Meadows Metal Sculptures
Breceda’s Sky Art sculptures in Galleta Meadows were inspired by three different themes: Fossil Treasures of the Anza-Borrego Desert, History and Nature of the Anza-Borrego Desert and Whim and Fantasy.
Galleta Meadows is unfenced and open to the public any time of day. You will need to drive since the sculptures are spread out and too far to walk in between. It will take you approximately a day and a half to see them all. recommend going in the spring or fall, as the summer in the desert is very hot.
You will want to either buy a a pocket guide from the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association or print out the map of the sculptures available at borregospringsartmap.com. You can also save the map on your phone as a photo.
Some of the sculptures are right off the road, while others are off in the distance. A few of them you have to drive off the main road on a dirt track to get to. Because of the road conditions, you need to be careful not to get stuck in the sand.
The Metal Sculptures in Anza Borrego Desert
The variety of sculptures is stunning. Bercada’s favorite piece of art is the large-scale T. rex that his daughter asked him to make after watching one of the Jurassic Park movies. It stands 20 feet tall and 45 feet long. Before this, he had no artistic experience. Can you believe this?
My personal favorite statue is the sea dragon, which comes 15 feet out of the ground and is 350 feet long. The dragon must be seen to be believed. It is so large it crosses the street. You have to see it to believe it! The sea dragon is also a great sculpture to take a family photo or selfie in front of.
The mammoth statues stand approximately 20 feet tall and 15 feet long. The trunks are life like. The statues are a tribute to the few skeletal remains found of mammoths in the area.
The camels are majestic sculptures with unique fur and postures. And the effort to details is breath-taking. Just look at how cute the baby camel is nursing with her mother.
The Indian head represents the Native Americans that helped play a significant role in expeditions to California in the 1770s. I personally think it is one of the most beautiful sculptures on the estate.
The Spanish Padre Pedro Font statue represents the Catholic priest from Spain who went on expeditions in the area. From 1773 to 1775, he served at Mission San José de Tumacácori in Pima Country. He was also the chaplain of Juan Bautista de Anza’s expedition that explored Alta, California from 1775 to 1776.
Additional sculptures on the estate includes a scorpion, sloths, a grasshopper, dinosaurs, horses, turtles, a gold miner, a jeep and a bird.
The Artist Ricardo Breceda
Ricardo Breceda continues to create today and you can visit his studio that’s open to the the public in Aguanga, California. To learn more about his artwork visit www.ricardobreceda.com.