An email forwarded to us from interim Washoe County Manager Kate Thomas has a section titled “Seven Magic Mountains update: De-obligation of funds recommended”
“Last September the Board allocated $500,000 in ARPA-SLFRF funding to the Nevada Museum of Art (NMA) for the relocation of the Seven Magic Mountains art currently located in Las Vegas. The agreement defined a strict timeline for identification of a Washoe County location for the art and for securing the additional funds needed for the move and installation,” it indicates.
“The NMA was unable to secure a Washoe County site for the art installation within the timeline required by the agreement. As a result, staff will recommend de-obligating the $500,000 NMA award and reallocating the funds to support critical renovations at the Washoe County Behavioral Health facility.”
The message says this proposal will be brought forward to the Board at an August 19th meeting.
It then includes a message from Claire Munoz from the Nevada Museum of Art saying a decision to renege was made last week, after the artist no longer wanted the move to happen.
“As of Friday, July 11, 2025, the artist Ugo Rondinone has ultimately decided not to proceed with relocating Seven Magic Mountains to Northern Nevada,” the Munoz message indicates. “While this decision is beyond our control, we fully respect the artist’s creative rights and final authority over the placement of his artwork. The Museum remains committed to transparency and public trust, and we have communicated promptly with key County personnel regarding this significant development. To date, no County funds have been committed or expended. We are deeply grateful for the County’s collaboration and support over the past year, and for the meaningful relationships that have been strengthened as a result. “
The piece is owned by the museum, but its lease with the BLM for its current location in Ivanpah Valley, along the far southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, expires at the end of 2026 due to the Harry Reid International Airport expansion, which is where the move idea to here initially came from.
