The mirror-polished, stainless steel’s gleam is impossible to miss in Encore Boston Harbor’s garden esplanade.
The Popeye sculpture bought by former Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn in 2014 has made it to its intended home five years later. The 6-foot-5, 2,000-pound sculpture was installed earlier this [month] by the garden esplanade and will remain wrapped in plastic to protect it from dust ahead of Opening Day, said Roger Thomas, executive vice president of design for Wynn Design & Development.
[Jeff] Koons’ Popeye sculptures aren’t just a display of masculinity. They tower over most, but the transparent color coating invites people to study their own reflections, as though they were in a fun house’s room of mirrors.
The $28 million purchase raised some eyebrows, especially among critics who dismiss Koons’ art as gaudy or a fad. But company officials say the cartoon sailor is an invaluable part of the Encore Boston Harbor experience.
