Landmark Sculpture Conservation

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park is proud to announce a major conservation project for the landmark sculpture, Cincinnati Story by renowned American artist George Sugarman. This vibrant, large-scale piece was carefully disassembled in November 2025 and transported to a specialized facility in Virginia for restoration over the winter. Cincinnati Story will return to Pyramid Hill in the spring of 2026 for a public unveiling and rededication during International Sculpture Day celebrations.

Sculpture History 

Cincinnati Story was originally commissioned in 1982 to stand in front of the Chiquita Center in Downtown Cincinnati, where Chiquita Brands International hosted their headquarters. Sugarman modeled the colorful metal cut-outs after Cincinnati’s waterway history. The 46 pieces that completed the sculpture featured jets that pulled water from a shallow pool below to travel through the forms of bent metal lace, much like the river offshoots that carve the Southwest Ohio region. Cincinnati Story is not just an artwork, but a historical landmark honoring the region’s legacy.

After Pyramid Hill’s founder, Harry T. Wilks, expressed interest in the piece, Cincinnati Story’s move to the Park in 1999 was made possible by over 75 community donors and supporters. The piece was positioned at the Overlook Patio as a crowning jewel atop the Park’s sprawling 470 acres of rolling hills, meadows, gardens, and forests where visitors continue to be mesmerized by its colors, shape, and grandeur. 

"Our father deeply understood the importance of Cincinnati Story, and it meant a great deal to him to keep it in the area where it has so much meaning.” says Barbara Wilks, Member of Pyramid Hill’s Board of Trustees. “Restoring it now, more than two decades later, is our way of honoring his vision and ensuring that others can experience the sculpture as he always hoped they would, in its full beauty." 

George Sugarman 

George Sugarman (1912–1999) was a pioneer in American modern sculpture, particularly in large scale public works. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945, Sugarman traveled through Europe to study Baroque architecture and the teachings of Cubist sculptor Ossip Zadkine. Sugarman then returned to New York City at age 39 where he became a prolific and innovative sculptor. By the late 1950’s, Sugarman was challenging the status quo of mainstream sculpture with polychrome sculptures considered radical at the time. He was one of the first artists to incorporate multiple bold colors into his works.

In the 1970s, Sugarman turned his focus to large-scale public installations, believing that sculpture could not only fill physical space, but also shape the negative space around it to make the invisible feel tangible. Cincinnati Story exemplifies George Sugarman’s groundbreaking use of color and form in artwork occupying public spaces. The piece remains one of his most recognized works in the Midwest today and serves as a landmark of the region. Sugarman created many of his large-scale pieces, including Cincinnati Story, at Lippincott Studios in North Haven, CT. This widely respected firm has facilitated the fabrication and conservation of large-scale sculptures for renowned artists such as Alexander Calder, Keith Haring, Alexander Liberman, and many others. In a conversation with Donald Lippincott, he had this to say about creating with George Sugarman, “we had a great time working with George...he’s a very interesting guy that loved to talk about how he viewed the world and his art. Everyone enjoyed working with him.” 

Conservation Timeline 

• November 2025 – Cincinnati Story will be carefully disassembled and transported to a professional restoration facility in Virginia. 

• November 2025 – February 2026 – Conservation specialists will undertake a thorough restoration, focusing on preserving the sculpture’s structural integrity and original color palette. Pyramid Hill staff will be involved throughout the process to learn from world-class conservers. This valuable experience will inform future conservation efforts of Cincinnati Story, and other sculptures in Pyramid Hill’s collection. 

• Spring 2026 – The restored sculpture will return to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, where it will be reassembled in its current location atop the Overlook Patio.

• April 2026 – A public rededication event will unveil the sculpture’s return in coordination with the Park’s annual celebration of International Sculpture Day.

This restoration reflects Pyramid Hill’s ongoing commitment to the preservation of outdoor sculpture and public art. As one of the few major works by Sugarman on permanent outdoor display, the conservation of Cincinnati Story ensures its longevity and continued relevance as an artistic and historical landmark.