Space Cowboy

Space Cowboy is a large-scale installation centered around a ten-foot rocket wearing a cowboy hat. Combining tufting, knitting, crochet, embroidery, and electronics, the installation transforms an Apollo-era mission control room into an immersive environment where every visible surface is either yarn or technology.

The work brings together two forces central to Colorado’s identity, the spirit of the cowboy and the pull of aerospace, collapsed into a single improbable figure. As the sculpture slowly rotates at the center of the installation, a second expression gradually comes into view, shifting the character from stoic to quietly mischievous and inviting viewers to encounter the work from multiple perspectives.

The character of Space Cowboy first came to me during an artist residency. As the idea developed, Ken Chapin and I envisioned the character as a sculpture. That sculpture, in turn, began to demand a world of its own, gradually expanding into an Apollo-era mission control environment complete with consoles, headphones, coffee cups, and scattered notes. Working monitors, illuminated controls, and live telemetry became part of the installation itself, marking our first integration of technology into the work.

Space Cowboy premiered at Space to Create Trinidad in June 2026 and continues to tour as a Dundee & Lee collaboration. Learn more about the statewide tour, educational initiative, and upcoming exhibitions at the Space Cowboy website.