Located on a knoll near the renowned Muirfield Village Golf Club, “S/WING” draws inspiration from the sinuous pattern of a bird’s wings in flight and the striking similarities to the body mechanics of a golf swing. More specifically, it is inspired by Jack Nicklaus’s iconic swing, as well as the countless swings made since the inaugural Memorial Tournament in 1976 and those still to come.
The work’s dialogue between avian movement and human dynamics connects the site’s historical context with its contemporary use. “S/WING” is an abstract reflection on how birds are regarded as guides and messengers in Shawnee and Wyandot traditions, as well as in Irish-Celtic lore. Revered as figures that move between worlds, birds signal intuition, transition, and connection to the natural environment—symbolism that reflects a long-standing cultural understanding of flight as both spiritual and ecological. In further connection with the geography and history of the land as sustenance, the sculpture also fuses green elements into the overall form, to simulate it seamlessly rising up from the site.
“S/WING” honors a legacy that has shaped both the game of golf and the community that surrounds it. Today, the sculpture celebrates these layered histories while supporting the mission of Dublin’s Art
in Public Places program to strengthen community identity. For residents and visitors, it offers a place for reflection and inspiration, linking the region’s historical roots with its present-day character, including its connection to golf and the recreational life shaped by Muirfield Village Golf Club.
The sculpture is envisioned as a place of reflection and inspiration, connecting past and present, nature and community.
Ivan Depeña
Ivan Toth Depeña is a Hispanic-American interdisciplinary artist and sculptor based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Holding architecture degrees from the University of Miami and Harvard's Graduate School of Design (M.Arch., 1998), his practice merges drawing, sculpture, and glasswork with custom software, light, and responsive systems to create large-scale public installations that shift with viewers' movements.
His commissions span the U.S. from Miami and Denver to Nashville, Albuquerque, and Iowa State University, where Breaking Barriers, a tribute to football player Jack Trice, won the 2025 CODAaward.
Other notable works include: Reflect, Air/Traffic/Control, Surface, and the augmented reality installation Lapse.
His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and he has received the Knight Arts Challenge Grant (2014), multiple CODAworx Awards, and Public Art Network "Year in Review" honors (2018, 2019).
WHITTINGHAM & MUIRFIELD DRIVE
The open green space includes an approximate 10-foot-high knoll which enhances visibility for a potential public artwork. The site is accessible by bike/walking paths and is very visible when driving north- or south-bound on Muirfield Dr. The site is located adjacent to the Memorial Tournament’s 12th hole
and the 13th hole entry gate, providing opportunities for a broadcast landmark that will be visible on a global stage.
The site also meets a variety of public art site selection criteria, including providing a location that, when activated by art,
will create a strong sense of place.
Discover insights from interdisciplinary artist Ivan Toth Depeña on his creative process, inspirations, and the integration of technology in public art in this exclusive interview, sponsored by SNA Displays.
