Momentum art installation by Patrick Shearn at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, featuring vibrant red, orange, purple, and teal fabric streamers suspended above the Lotus Pond in a stunning display of kinetic sculpture and immersive public art.
Two vibrant aerial sculptures from the Momentum art installation by Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics suspended above a tranquil pond at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, with colorful reflections mirrored in the water.

An Aerial Art Exhibition

MOMENTUM

by Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics

Momentum, an Aerial Art Installation at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

The Momentum art installation at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden celebrates color, movement, and the spirit of nature. Created by artist Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, as part of his Skynet Series.  This immersive outdoor experience invites visitors to pause, look up, and engage with the landscape in a new way.

Unveiled in summer 2025 to mark the Garden’s 10th anniversary, the dual installation features two distinct kinetic sculptures—Vivid Echo and Elevated Reflection—each shaped by natural forces and human imagination.

Exhibition Details
📍 Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
📅 Now on view through fall 2025
⏰ Included with garden admission | Open daily during regular garden hours

VIVID ECHO - A Tapestry of Thoughtful Expression

Installed in the Garden of the Five Senses, Vivid Echo invites visitors into a vibrant, interactive space. Hundreds of colorful fabric streamers, many hand-inscribed with personal messages, ripple gently in the breeze. The artwork hangs low, welcoming playful engagement and close inspection.

Children often lead the way, darting beneath the fabric and peeking through its layers. For Shearn, this is intentional. The piece is meant to spark curiosity, especially in young minds still forming their unique view of the world.

ELEVATED REFLECTION - Where Wind and Water Intertwined

Floating above the Lotus Pond, Elevated Reflection acts like a living mirror. Its 1,500-square-foot canopy glimmers and shifts as wind passes through, producing a mesmerizing dialogue between sky and surface.

The piece moves like breath—rising, bowing, and curling with each gust. At times, it hovers just above the water, creating dazzling reflections. At others, it soars skyward, framing the pond in ever-changing layers of color.

As Shearn describes it, “I want to transmit the feeling of extraordinary discovery… a surreal, reflecting pool full of vivid, moving color.” In this tranquil setting, the artwork feels both otherworldly and deeply connected to the Earth.

THE POWER OF MOMENTUM

Commissioned to celebrate a decade of growth at the Garden, Momentum represents more than movement—it symbolizes forward-thinking ideas and shared community experiences.

Over 11,000 fabric elements were assembled by hand to bring these works to life. Shaped by wind, sunlight, and weather, the sculptures reflect our relationship with the environment—and how unseen forces continuously shape our lives.

VIDEO ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Momentum Art Installation Pittsburgh Botanic Garden 

Momentum Art Installation Pittsburgh Botanic Garden 

Momentum Art Installation Pittsburgh Botanic Garden 

Momentum Art Installation Pittsburgh Botanic Garden 

Momentum Art Installation Pittsburgh Botanic Garden 

 

MOMENTUM

at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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