Maya Lin, the artist known for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is bringing a major new public art installation to the University of Texas at Austin campus. The project, titled Floating Landscape, covers 3,600 square feet and features a restored meadow near Waller Creek, positioned close to the new Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building.
Andrée Bober, the director of UT’s Landmarks public art program, describes the work as an environment rather than a static piece. Visitors are encouraged to walk across and gather on the gentle sculptural form, which incorporates native grasses and plants to assist with stormwater management and erosion control. The design marks a collaboration between Lin, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the urban design firm Lionheart Places.
At night, the installation changes appearance as LED lights illuminate the surface. These lights are programmed to map the specific constellations that were visible in the sky on the date the University of Texas was founded. The installation reflects Lin’s career-long interest in how humans experience and move through natural spaces.
This project represents the first permanent public art piece by Maya Lin in Texas. The piece was commissioned as part of the university's policy to dedicate a portion of capital improvement funds to public art. Construction is currently underway on-site to establish the meadow and install the sculptural elements.
An opening celebration for the artwork is scheduled for April 9, 2027. The event will include a conversation between Maya Lin and art historian Jana La Brasca to discuss the design process and the intersection of art, architecture, and environmental science.