Stefan Sagmeister
(b. 1962 Bregenz, Austria)
Lakes and Rivers
2023
Stainless steel disks
Courtesy of OZ Art NWA

Two oversized Smallmouth Bass are brought to life by 268,947 mirrored disks that respond to changes in natural light and air. The shimmer of the artwork’s surface is reminiscent of the waterways found throughout Arkansas and reflects on the abundance of natural outdoor experiences and robust outdoor recreation industry in our area.

Lakes & Rivers takes into consideration the Natural State’s outdoor recreation industry and natural water sources, with the accessibility and beauty that makes up Northwest Arkansas’s vibrant arts atmosphere. The two smallmouth bass acts as a visual representation of the growth of waterways and paddle sports across the nation and the booming outdoor recreation industry in Northwest Arkansas. The size of the smaller fish represents the roughly 6 million paddlers in the U.S. in 2006, and the larger fish reflects the 18 million paddlers on U.S. waterways in 2020.

Fun Fact: The larger of the two smallmouth bass measures about 93 feet long, which is the same as the average length of a blue whale, the largest animal on earth.

(revised by Carlyn Wilder, 2024)