New sculpture Cloud Embrace installed in Bricktown

Published on March 11, 2026

Public Art Project Commissioned by Visit OKC and Inasmuch Foundation

Click to view Cloud Embrace images/video

An exciting new public art installation called Cloud Embrace was dedicated today in the Bricktown Entertainment District. Visit Oklahoma City and Inasmuch Foundation commissioned and gifted the piece to the City of Oklahoma City as part of the reimagined United Way Plaza at Reno and Walnut Ave. This pedestrian plaza is operated and maintained by the City of Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department and sits adjacent to the Bricktown Canal and Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Cloud Embrace was designed by Creative Machines, a multi-disciplinary design and fabrication company led by Joseph O’Connell. The team consists of nearly 30 exceptional professionals in art, engineering, design, architecture, project management, fabrication and installation.

“This immersive art experience was inspired by Oklahoma City’s incredible skies which frequently demonstrate how clouds are a canvas for light and color,” said Joseph O’Connell, President and Artistic Director of Creative Machines. “The ever-changing sky is also an apt metaphor for how the OKC community has been shaped over time and continues to evolve. Clouds exist for a brief moment in time just as experiences do.”

Cloud Embrace is crafted from perforated, heavy-gauge steel with a durable painted finish. At approximately 24-feet high by 40-feet wide and 9-feet deep, its monumental scale easily fits groups of people inside, making for dynamic moments and photo opportunities.

Multi-colored panels cast shadows within the piece and around the plaza during the day, as well as color-changing LED lighting that creates a fun, safe and immersive environment at night. The materials are designed to withstand many years of public use and require minimal maintenance.

“For a city that prides itself on its fast-growing public art portfolio, Cloud Embrace is an exciting new addition, and I know it will become a major landmark in the heart of Bricktown,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “I’m thrilled it’s ready just in time for the NCAA Tournament, the NBA Playoffs, the Canoe Slalom World Championships, and all the other major events this spring and summer. On behalf of the people of Oklahoma City, I thank all the partners that made it possible.”

Public art transforms ordinary urban spaces into dynamic cultural hubs that foster connection and reflect a city’s creative spirit.

“Business, art and entertainment intersect in our vibrant districts across OKC,” said Christy Gillenwater, President & CEO of the Greater OKC Chamber. “We hope Cloud Embrace brings renewed energy and interest to Lower Bricktown as visitors and locals meet up with friends, explore retail and dining options or seek out places to make new memories.”

Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and an Inasmuch Foundation grant, this art installation is intended to enhance the visitor experience and drive tourism business.

“It took a variety of public-private partnerships to bring this art experience to life, and by working together, we significantly scaled the size and impact of this innovative placemaking project,” said Bob Ross, Chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “We hope locals and visitors enjoy exploring the immersive colors and light that make Cloud Embrace feel different through changing times of day and seasons.”

The location for this art installation is ideal due to multiple vantage points in the high-traffic pedestrian plaza, by car and via the OKC Streetcar. Cloud Embrace was designed with distinct differences for those experiencing it up close or from a distance, as well as throughout the day or night. The project aligns with other public art and placemaking efforts across the city, including 15 pieces using meteorological or sky-related themes.