MONARCH BUTTERFLY SCULPTURE
A monumental stainless steel monarch butterfly sculpture designed for the entrance of the Krohn Conservatory's Aannual Butterfly Show. The sculpture was engineered as a permanent yet modular installation that could be disassembled each year for storage while providing a striking landmark and future-ready lighting capabilities.
Client
Cincinnati Parks
Completed
2026
Specs
26’ x 16’ | 1,500 lbs
Material
Stainless Steel
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Krohn Conservatory approached Iron Belle Metal Design with the opportunity to create a signature sculpture to sit atop their historic glass greenhouse for their annual Butterfly Show. While the conservatory arrived with an initial concept, Jordan felt its design wouldn’t properly communicate the recognizable form and elegance of a butterfly and recommended redesigning the sculpture from the ground up.
Working collaboratively with the conservatory, he developed a new design centered around the iconic monarch butterfly, aligning perfectly with the theme of the 2026 Butterfly Show: Destination Monarch. The distinctive orange-and-black color palette became a defining visual element that immediately connected the sculpture to the exhibit.
One of the primary design goals was long-term versatility. Jordan envisioned the sculpture functioning much like a large shadow box, creating a four-inch-deep cavity behind each wing frame. While the initial installation did not include lighting, this internal space was intentionally incorporated so future LED lighting could be added, creating dramatic back-lighting and shadow effects without requiring structural modifications later.
Material selection also reflected the client's long-term goals. Stainless steel was chosen for its durability and low maintenance requirements while providing a refined architectural appearance. Jordan applied a random ground finish to the stainless surfaces, allowing sunlight to reflect differently across the sculpture throughout the day and creating visual contrast against the monarch-inspired graphics.
Operational logistics became a design challenge. Along with needing to meet structural engineering requirements, the sculpture also needed to be easily disassembled and stored each year when the exhibition ends. To accomplish this, Jordan designed the sculpture to be divided into nine bolted components: a central body section and eight wing segments. This modular approach allows the sculpture to be assembled like a large-scale puzzle while remaining practical for yearly installation and storage.
Today, the completed butterfly serves as a signature feature of Krohn Conservatory's Butterfly Show, and it embodies a perfect intersection of artistry, engineering, and long-term functionality.
