Jacksonville Stacked Stars

This monumental sculpture was created to celebrate the MOCA Jacksonville's 100th anniversary and is the final major work by Frank Stella (1936-2024), one of the most influential contemporary artists of his time. It is one of only three public sculptures by the artist to feature stacked stars, with one at Hudson Yards in Manhattan and the other commissioned for the new U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.

MOCA Jacksonville is proud to announce the acquisition of this sculpture in 2025, made possible by the tremendous support of local donors. It is a landmark work to be displayed publicly near MOCA's entrance in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville. 

Having Jacksonville Stacked Stars centrally located in Downtown Jacksonville enhances the cultural landscape of our city, provides accessible art for the entire community, and fosters a visual identity for Jacksonville. The sculpture acts as a beacon to drive cultural tourism, benefitting local businesses and bringing positive regional, national, and international recognition to our great city. 

"Jacksonville Stacked Stars has the power to captivate and inspire, serving as a symbol of creativity and innovation for all who encounter it. Its presence outside of MOCA will undoubtedly draw positive attention to Downtown and establish our city as a hub for artistic expression." 

—Donna Deegan, Mayor of Jacksonville

About Frank Stella

During his life, Frank Stella produced an extraordinary body of work. His inventive spirit and ever-evolving approach to materials and style helped him remain relevant and impactful over more than 60 years of creation. Since his first solo gallery exhibition at Leo Castelli Gallery in 1960, when he presented his famous Black Paintings, Stella interrogated painterly and sculptural mediums. Initial paintings based on the rejection of the conventionally rectangular canvas and of painting-as-representation, gave way to complex wall reliefs made from paint, cardboard, and felt. Throughout his career, he further blurred the distinction between painting and sculpture in baroque works that seemed to leap off the wall, exploring the possibilities of expression and testing the limits of his chosen media. Toward the end of his career, Stella used digital modeling to explore how subtle changes in scale, color, and material can affect our perception and experience of the free-standing object.

Support for Jacksonville Stacked Stars

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