Barton Rubenstein
Barton Rubenstein is an internationally recognized sculptor whose monumental public artworks have shaped landscapes around the world, with more than 100 major installations across the United States and internationally. His work includes a sculpture at the official residence of the Vice President of the United States, and he is commissioned to create the Portrait of a Nation Award for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, a biennial honor presented to great Americans whose lives have shaped the country. He is also cofounder of the Mother Earth Project, a global initiative that has used art to activate sustainable communities in more than 80 countries.
Rubenstein’s mission is to harness the power of public art to inspire reflection, cultivate peace, and deepen our connection to the natural world. Through sculpture, he transforms plazas, parks, campuses, and civic spaces into places of resonance and meaning—offering moments of stillness and wonder within the momentum of modern life.
Collaborating with cities, cultural institutions, universities, and foundations, he creates landmark, site-specific works that engage light, wind, water, and gravity itself. His wind-kinetic, water, and vertical sculptures move in dialogue with their environments, elevating the built landscape while fostering connection, awareness, and shared human experience. Each installation stands not simply as an object, but as a living presence—an enduring symbol of harmony between art, nature, and community.
Rubenstein's work is deeply inspired by the natural world, evident in his water, wind kinetic, and vertical sculptures in suspension. Each genre allows him to explore and interpret nature's inherent beauty and raw power through his artistic lens.
Rooted in the natural world, Rubenstein’s work spans water sculptures, wind-powered kinetic installations, and vertical sculptures in suspension. Across these major public art forms, from monumental fountains to large-scale wind-kinetic structures, he explores fluid motion, atmospheric forces, and the physics of balance. His environmental public art transforms civic landscapes, revealing nature’s power, beauty, and harmony within contemporary urban environments.
Wind Kinetic Sculpture
Wind Kinetic sculpture explores motion through natural forces, transforming static sculptures into dynamic, ever-changing forms.
Wind Kinetic Sculpture
Water Sculpture
Rubenstein has emerged as a prominent figure in the field of water sculpture and one of the few masters of this unique genre.
Water Sculpture
Vertical Sculpture in Suspension
The illusion of defying gravity achieved through vertical sculpture in suspension imparts an ethereal quality to the artwork, creating a surreal and wondrous experience.
Vertical Sculpture in Suspension
Studio Designs
For Barton Rubenstein, every public art commission begins with a hand-drawn sketch, the foundation of his site-specific sculpture process. These conceptual studies explore form, movement, scale, and environment, laying the groundwork for large-scale public art, including his iconic wind-kinetic sculptures, water sculpture, and vertical sculpture in suspension.
Through sketches and models, Rubenstein refines engineering, kinetic behavior, materials, and spatial relationship to architecture and landscape. This disciplined creative process guides each monumental sculpture from vision to installation across cities, civic spaces, sculpture parks, university campuses, and real-estate developments.
Explore Rubenstein’s latest public art designs and conceptual studies here.
The Mother Earth Project
The Mother Earth Project, founded in 2015 by scientist and public artist Barton Rubenstein, is a global environmental public art initiative activating communities in more than 80 countries. This international movement uses large-scale public art, youth engagement, and creative activism to advance sustainability, inspire climate action, and encourage stronger environmental policy and climate legislation.
At the heart of the initiative are Parachutes for the Planet®—community-created environmental artworks displayed in cities, parks, schools, and museums, and the monumental Mother Earth sculpture, a landmark symbol of climate awareness, unity, and environmental stewardship. Installed in civic spaces from Washington, D.C. to Buenos Aires, Argentina to Guilin, China, these projects foster global collaboration, strengthen community identity, and mobilize the public to protect the planet.
Portrait of a Nation Award
Commissioned by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery, the Portrait of a Nation Award is a prestigious biennial honor designed and created by public artist Barton Rubenstein. Crafted in polished stainless steel and standing 12 inches high, this sculptural award is presented at the museum’s celebrated Gala to recognize Americans whose achievements have shaped the nation’s cultural, civic, and public life.
This commission reflects Rubenstein’s distinguished work in civic and cultural art commissions, aligning with the National Portrait Gallery’s mission to celebrate excellence, leadership, and service to the United States. The award’s form bridges historical legacy with contemporary vision, symbolizing the evolving ideals and enduring spirit of the nation.
Powered by Grief
Powered by Grief: My Adeventures as a Scientist, Artist, and Activist is the memoir of Dr. Barton Rubenstein, tracing his evolution from a childhood shaped by profound loss to a life at the intersection of scientific discovery, public art, and environmental activism.
Drawing on his background in physics and neuroscience, Rubenstein chronicles how early grief ignited a drive to understand the world and contribute to it — leading to pioneering research, the creation of large-scale public art and wind-kinetic sculpture, and the founding of a global environmental public art movement. His story is a meditation on resilience, purpose, and service, demonstrating how personal tragedy can give rise to creativity, innovation, and a commitment to community and planetary well-being.
Speaking Engagements
Barton Rubenstein is a neuroscientist, engineer, public artist, and environmental leader who brings a uniquely interdisciplinary voice to the stage. His lectures explore how large-scale public art, kinetic sculpture, and environmental design shape human perception, strengthen social connection, and transform public space.
With speaking engagements at COP26 in Glasgow, leading museums, universities, civic forums, and international climate summits, Rubenstein illuminates the evolving role of public art in civic life, sustainability, and community-building. His presentations are visually compelling and deeply research-driven, demonstrating how art, science, and activism can work together to advance climate action, foster belonging, and inspire a more peaceful and interconnected world.
Rubenstein Around the World
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Water Sculpture
Wind Kinetic Sculpture
Vertical Sculpture in Suspension
Mother Earth