Judy Chicago starts conversations with her art. Her explosive “smoke sculptures,” like the one shown above, are no exception. To make these works, Chicago uses pyrotechnics, or fireworks, to release brightly hued smoke outdoors.
In April 2021, Chicago planned to present a smoke sculpture during an art festival at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens—a habitat for desert life near Palm Springs, California.But experts grew concerned that the project, titled Living Smoke: A Tribute to the Living Desert, posed a risk to wildlife, resulting in its cancellation.