Towering Montauk exhibit sparks scrutiny and a potential legal battle

The Hamptons is known for its quirky sculptures, from brightly colored geometric gorillas to abstract pop art by Roy Lichtenstein that catches the eyes of drivers along Montauk Highway.

Now, a towering piece made of stacked shipping containers in Montauk is drawing a different kind of attention — from East Hampton Town officials weighing legal action.

At issue is a 60-foot-tall sculpture built entirely of 12 shipping containers that depicts a figure sitting cross-legged. The piece, "Meditating Figure," by sculptor Matt Johnson, is part of “LA Monumental,” an outdoor exhibit that opened June 27 at The Ranch, an art gallery and horse farm.

Town officials said the issue is not the artwork itself, but how it was built and installed. Pictures on the gallery’s website show that the sculpture was assembled using a crane. 

“By definition, this is a structure,” Town Attorney Jake Turner told the town board during its work session on Tuesday. “They’re welding large pieces of metal together. It needs to go through the Building Department for applicable safety standard checks. If we don’t take action, then we are compromising the safety of the residents.”

The sculpture may also be on a portion of the property that's subject to an easement restricting where displays can go, Turner said.

The town board at that meeting voted 4-1 to authorize the town attorney to sue the owner of The Ranch. 

Max Levai, The Ranch's owner and curator, said in a statement: "The Ranch values its relationship with East Hampton town and [looks] forward to working proactively to resolve any issue there might or might not be." He said the sculpture was installed on June 19.

Johnson, the sculptor, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Councilmember Tom Flight cast the lone dissenting vote. He noted that the town does not have guidance on restricting art displays.

“I appreciate that this is an exceptionally large piece, but to deny people the ability to exhibit art is not something I personally support,” he said.

S upervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said authorizing litigation does not necessarily mean a lawsuit will be filed and could instead prompt the property owner to come into compliance.

The town issued four violations to The Ranch in connection with the installation. They include the violation of a conservation easement and failures to obtain a building permit, Architectural Review Board approval and a certificate of occupancy.

The site has been a point of contention in the past. In 2023, the town issued appearance tickets to The Ranch for hosting unpermitted art events and failing to obtain site plan approvals for art exhibits, among other violations. The town board authorized litigation against the property owner over the issues, but it did not file a lawsuit.