City Celebrates New Public Art at Roundabout in San Luis Ranch

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SHIFT, an eye-catching, three-story sculpture, now welcomes the community with a message of connection, resilience, and shared purpose.

Post Date:01/09/2026 2:27 PM

The City of San Luis Obispo celebrated the installation of SHIFT, a new 1,200-pound sculpture that is now part of the City’s public art collection, with a ribbon cutting ceremony this week in San Luis Ranch.

Community members are encouraged to view SHIFT on their way to SLO Ranch Market or the Target center at the roundabout at Froom Ranch Way and Heirloom Place. A public-facing sign describing the artwork was also installed along the walkway across from the roundabout to inform pedestrians passing by about the piece.

SHIFT was created by local artist and architect Warren Hamrick and a team of artists and fabricators. On the afternoon of January 6, 2026, a small group of City staff and community members gathered celebrated nearly two years of collaboration between the City, community partners, and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) to bring this meaningful public art piece into a shared space.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony included Hamrick, SLOMA Executive Director Leann Standish, City Manager Whitney McDonald and Mayor Erica A. Stewart.

They remarked on how the sculpture symbolizes a fractured world and our changing relationship to the environment, social and political landscapes, and the economy and invited reflection on transformation, resilience, and collective care. The speakers encouraged viewers to consider how collaboration across communities can shift our fractured world and shape a more connected future.

City officials and local artist cut a ribbon in front of a large statue.

About the Selection and Installation
The City and SLOMA held an informational community engagement meeting with neighboring community members about the artwork in March 2024. Community members who attended were enthusiastic about the project. The Main Company completed the installation in coordination with the City's Public Works and Parks and Recreation teams. Rob Foster and Lee Engelmeier of Buehler Engineering provided fabrication and welding support.

About SLO Public Art
SHIFT is now part of the City’s Public Art Program, which helps create a vibrant community where people want to live, work, and visit, and builds pride, identity, and a strong sense of place across public spaces throughout San Luis Obispo. The City's Public Art Program is managed by the Parks & Recreation Department and has over 150 unique pieces of public art ranging from murals, mosaics, oil and watercolor paintings, utility box art, stained glass, sculptures, benches, bridge railings, and more may be seen throughout the City.

For more information about the City’s Public Art Program, visit www.slocity.org/publicart. Sign up to get more City news at www.slocity.org/Subscribe.

Media Contact: Whitney Szentesi, Public Communications Manager, wszentes@slocity.org

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