Article updated on May 11, 2023

“The American highway is a beautiful thing,” says internationally acclaimed artist Cliff Garten from his Venice, California studio.

It seems an unlikely thing to say, but Garten dedicated his career to creating monumental civic art projects that transform everyday infrastructure — transit stops, parking structures, and yes even stretches of highway — into moments of expression. His installations humanize the brutal functionality of these public spaces, shrinking them to a relatable scale that encourages engagement, conversation, and pride. 

“That’s what I call the expressive potential of infrastructure,” explains the artist.

In May 2023, Hillsboro unveiled its own Cliff Garten installation on the Brookwood Parkway overpass over Highway 26.

Bridge of Land & Sky replaced the standard, chain-link pedestrian safety fence normally installed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) with a 290-foot-long, 9-foot-high art piece. Bridge of Land & Sky still meets ODOT’s rigorous safety standards while elevating the overpass beyond everyday infrastructure. 

Like all of Garten’s art, Bridge of Land & Sky draws inspiration from its surroundings. The piece, made from a series of steel panels, takes its cue from the rolling Tualatin Hills and Oregon Coast range visible from the highway and the topography of site. 

The panels gently rise and fall, emulating nearby peaks and valleys. A design, based on a topographic map of the site is cut through the panels, allowing light and movement to peek through the forms. Specially designed lighting further enhance Bridge of Land & Sky, creating a dramatic, thought-provoking gateway to the city. 

“My art is place based,” Garten explains, likening his process to sticking an acupuncture needle in just the right spot. “This piece has a story. You can’t take Bridge of Land & Sky and just move it to another location.”

Creative inspiration, however, is just a fraction of what’s required to create an infrastructure project like Bridge of Land & Sky. There were engineering problems, like the Brookwood Parkway bridge deck’s multiple curves, to solve. Then there was the long approval process, coordination with multiple government agencies, and fabrication to finish before installation can begin.

Marathon timelines are a normal part of the process for Garten. He and his staff regularly adjust their strategy and tweak their design to address conditions.

“You need a lot of patience, a lot of technical ability, and good coordination skills to pull this off,” he says. “It’s not like walking into a studio and picking out a painting.”

Now installed, Bridge of Land & Sky has forever changed the experience of traveling under or on the Brookwood Parkway overpass. Garten sees the project as an icon for the community, a distinctive moment on this corridor of Highway 26 that increases awareness between infrastructure and the people who use it. 

Learn more about Hillsboro's Public Art Program.