Hamptons art centre sued over large shipping container sculpture
The town of East Hampton claims Matt Johnson’s 60ft-tall sculpture is a structure built without proper safety permitting
A massive sculpture made of 12 decommissioned shipping containers, titled "Meditating Figure (2026)" by Los Angeles-based artist Matt Johnson, is at the center of a legal dispute in East Montauk, a prestigious beach destination on New York's Long Island. The artist's work, depicting a nearly 60-foot-tall seated human-like figure, is part of the exhibition "LA Monumental" at the Ranch, owned by art consultant Max Levai.
East Hampton, the town where the Ranch is located, has filed a lawsuit against Levai, Johnson, and the Ranch, alleging that the sculpture, which sits on Levai's land restricted to agricultural use, qualifies as a structure and requires proper permitting. The city claims the sculpture failed to obtain a building permit, approve from the local architectural review board, and receive a certificate of occupancy. Four charges have been brought against the Ranch, including violation of a conservation easement.
East Hampton's lawyer, Jake Turner, stated that the sculpture's size and materials necessitate safety standard checks from the building department. Former councilman Tom Flight questioned the town's authority to dictate art on private property. The Ranch, Levai, and Johnson were named defendants, though Johnson was later dropped from the claims. Levai and his lawyers did not respond to inquiries.
This situation is not the first time Levai has faced controversy over the Ranch; in 2023, his neighbor and former dealer Adam Lindemann was arrested for trespassing and harassment after allegedly assaulting Levai over zoning violations.
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