The Cloud is composed of thousands of small steel flaps that will move with the breeze. It floats over the roundabout that also serves as a below ground pedestrian pathway. Inspiration for the piece was drawn from the prominent hallmark of Bhutanese architecture that the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is commonly known for. The artwork is an abstract gesture to the city of Bhutan who is also known as the Kingdom in the Clouds and to the City of El Paso spectacular cloud formations.
Donald Lipski is a renowned sculptor from New York who has made public artworks all over the country including Denver, Colorado and San Antonio, Texas. His poetic combinations of existing materials, energetic installations, and colorful public sculptures have become iconic symbols for the places in which they are located. Mr. Lipski’s works are on a grand scale and help to enliven the space, both visually and symbolically.
The Cloud was named one of the Outstanding Public Art Projects of 2016 through Americans for the Arts' Public Art Network's Year in Review.