Smiling King Bear (Wynn)

A 16-foot geometric bear in a spiked crown, holding a smiling ball, stands inside Wynn Las Vegas, and it began as a festival piece on the streets of Downtown. Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel made Smiling King Bear in his prismatic style from fiberglass, aluminium and highly pigmented synthetic enamel, according to Wynn Resorts. The company’s release says it came from Spain for an outdoor exhibition in Downtown Las Vegas curated by the creative house Justkids. My Modern Met reported in October 2017 that it was so big and heavy it travelled by ship over six weeks, and that it sat near Okuda’s painting Rest of the three Graces.

Wynn’s 2018 release announced the acquisition and said the sculpture was installed over a multi-day process overseen by the artist. Roger Thomas, Wynn’s executive vice president of design, called it “an exuberant, sophisticated and original statement of joy”. Okuda said the hotel’s architecture and luminosity highlight the shapes and colours of the bear. The release also describes him as known for converting an abandoned Spanish church, Kaos Temple.