East County News Service
Oct. 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- The heartbeat of the Borrego Springs art scene is coming to downtown San Diego this weekend.
Metal sculptor Ricardo Breceda's Public Art Roadshow will be on the San Diego County Administration's Lawn No. 2 from Friday, Oct. 10 through Monday, Oct. 13.
Presented by Borrego Community Builders, a Rams Hill initiative supporting community, creativity and connection, the event included a Friday morning meet-and-greet with Breceda, creator of more than 100 metal "Sky Art" sculptures that bring the desert to life.
Breceda, who was born in Durango, Mexico, has lived in California for nearly three decades.
Known also as "The Accidental Artist," Breceda has been creating his metal animal kingdom since 2001 -- since his then 6-year-old daughter Lianna, requested a dinosaur of her own after watching the movie Jurassic Park III.
Breceda at the time was a Cowboy boot salesman, but wanting to make his daughter happy, created his first sculpture -- a 20-foot tall Tyrannosaurus Rex. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion to transform metal into incredible lifelike creation, and Breceda since then has become a well-known sculptor designer.
Perhaps his best-known work began when he crossed paths with Dennis Avery, an heir to the Avery Dennison Corporation label makers. Avery owned Galleta Meadows Estates in Borrego Springs, and envisioned turning his land into a giant free-standing art gallery. Commissioned by Avery, Breceda would create over 130 pieces to dot the landscape, including a 350-foot sea serpent "swimming" in the sand.
A self-taught artist, Breceda’s work is not limited to a menagerie of dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures and mustangs. His influences also come via the Old West with stagecoaches, cowboys and Native Americans. He also excels in creating smaller sculptures of motorcycles, insects,plants and suns, along with his larger works.
Background on the event
The event is championing Borrego Springs and looking to draw visitors interested in seeking out more of the desert areas in San Diego County.
Located on the edge of the Anza-Borrego Desert, Borrego Springs is a culturally rich yet often under resourced community known for its more htan 130 Breceda sculptures and desert artistry.
The weekend effort in downtown San Diego celebrates the power of public art to connect San Diego communities and brings renewed attention to Borrego Springs’ ongoing community development, housing and sustainability efforts.
Borrego Community Builders is a Rams Hill initiative focused on building Borrego Community Homes and leading projects that support the Borrego Springs community.
On Aug. 27, BCB held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for the first model home in the Deep Well community of Borrego Springs. It is part of BCB’s broader initiative to address the critical need for attainable housing in Borrego Springs.
A Community Advisory Committee is guiding the overall effort to ensure the project reflects local priorities and delivers meaningful benefits for residents. Learn more at recently launched www.BorregoCommunityBuilders.com, at facebook.com/buildborrego instagram.com/buildborrego
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