In the middle of a seemingly barren area, under the relentless sun that bathes everything in its light and scorching heat, monumental human figures mesmerize everyone who visits them. Hiding in plain sight near the city, these sculptures are definitely worth a quick day trip to one of California’s most beautiful places.
Daniel Popper, the South African sculptor known for his monumental and spiritually infused artworks, is the creative force behind this piece. Titled “Transmission”, the installation debuted in 2021 at the Mojave Moon Ranch near Joshua Tree National Park.Popper collaborated closely with L.A.–based designer Morgan Brown to bring the work into reality, blending artistic vision with architectural ambition
The sculpture soars roughly 32 feet tall, with hands measuring around 27 feet, and is crafted from steel-reinforced, glass fiber concrete and adorned with dichroic glass mirror tiles that shimmer and shift in color as the observer moves.
Its serene female visage rests in meditation, hands splayed with circular palm cut‑outs, a symbolic bridge between earth and sky, and by extension, the spiritual and the physical. The mosaics and crescent moon motifs echo cosmic themes while grounding the monument in the desert’s stark beauty.
The massive sculpture sits on private property at the Mojave Moon Ranch just outside Joshua Tree, visible from a designated turnout on Sunfair Road where visitors can safely stop, take photos, and admire it from the roadside.
Location: 2015 Sunfair Rd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252