1959 cadillac components turn into lighting cactus sculpture in california

Roger Reutimann’s Cadillactus references 1959 Cadillac model

Cadillactus by Roger Reutimann is a site-specific public sculpture that integrates formal characteristics of the 1959 Cadillac with botanical features reminiscent of a cactus. The work utilizes automotive materials and fabrication techniques to explore hybridity between mid-century industrial design and organic morphology.

Positioned along the primary approach from Palm Springs Airport, California, to the downtown area, the installation is designed as a vertical structure that references both vehicular aesthetics and native desert flora. The chrome-finished tailfins and bullet-shaped lighting elements are configured to evoke the appearance of cactus spines and nocturnal blooms. These illuminated features activate at night, transforming the sculpture into a light-based landmark.

all images courtesy of Roger Reutimann

illuminating cactus spines turn Cadillactus into light sculpture

The surface treatment, achieved through the application of automotive paints and finishes, responds to changing desert light conditions throughout the day. Constructed primarily from steel and fiberglass, the structure leverages industrial processes common in car manufacturing, including the use of powder coating and metallic patinas. For the sculpture’s form, designer Roger Reutimann follows a modular approach, merging repetition and symmetry with asymmetrical, cactus-inspired deviations. The piece’s structural core supports radial extensions that suggest branching or flowering, while maintaining material coherence with its vehicular references.

Cadillactus was recognized with the 2024 CODAworx People’s Choice Award for public art. It reflects a synthesis of sculpture, design, and engineering, and contributes to the urban identity of Palm Springs through site-responsive formal language.

Cadillactus combines 1959 Cadillac styling with cactus-inspired forms