$6 Million Light Installation ‘Star Ceiling’ Planned for El Paso Museum of Art

The entrance to the El Paso Museum of Art could be getting a light installation designed by an artist who was raised in El Paso and has been creating light sculptures for the last 20 years.

A hefty $6 million price tag is all that stands in the way.

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Star Ceiling

The proposed piece, titled "Star Ceiling," will be 120 feet long and composed of 13,500 LED lights.

The plan is to suspend it over the south entrance of the art museum, according to Paso del Norte Community Foundation which is helping raise funds.

This unique interactive display will never repeat the same light patterns, creating a different experience for every visitor -- Paso del Norte Community Foundation

Custom-designed reclined seating made from “local stone” and landscaping with plants native to our area will be incorporated into the outdoor walkway, too, per the proposal the artist, Leo Villarreal, presented to the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.

About the Artist

Considered one of the world’s top light artists, Villareal spent his formative years in the El Paso/Juarez area.

He has created immersive lighted works for numerous art galleries and public spaces according to his online bio, including San Francisco’s Bay Bridge and The Star, the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

How Much Has Been Raised and What Will It Cost El Paso Taxpayers?

As stated on the web page created by the Paso del Norte Community Foundation to raise funds for the project, the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation and the PDN Community Foundation has pledged to raise the $6 million “required to design, construct, install, and permanently maintain the signature project.”

The formal gift agreement approved by El Paso City Council in 2021 doesn't mention the use of any public funds, only that Council’s approval is “contingent upon the Foundation raising adequate funds for its completion.”

According to a published report on El Paso Inc., how much the EPMA Foundation has raised so far is “unclear.”