Frank Stella’s last major work of sculpture being installed in Jacksonville

The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA), part of Arts UNF at the University of North Florida, announced on May 4, 2026, the acquisition of Jacksonville Stacked Stars, the final major work of sculpture by the world-renowned artist Frank Stella and the culminating piece in his iconic Star series. The large-scale work is being installed in front of the museum at 333 N. Laura Street, transforming Downtown Jacksonville’s cultural corridor with a defining work of American art.

“This is a historic moment for our city and for contemporary art,” said Caitlín Doherty, Associate Vice President, Arts UNF & Executive Director, MOCA Jacksonville. “Jacksonville Stacked Stars was created for MOCA’s 100th anniversary celebrations and for our city by the seminal artist Frank Stella. We are thrilled to share this iconic work of art—the final major public work created by the artist—with our city. Its placement in the heart of our Downtown, brings free, daily access to a masterpiece of contemporary art—inviting everyone to experience the power of art in their everyday lives.”

The acquisition was made possible through an exemplary public-private partnership with 90% of the funding provided by more than 50 private donors, including major gifts from Shanna Khan, President of the Khan Family Foundation, Inc., Lauren G. and Edward L. Baker II, and Joan and Preston Haskell, as well as support from the Duval County Tourist Development Council.

“Jacksonville Stacked Stars has the power to captivate and inspire, serving as a symbol of creativity and innovation for all who encounter it,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “Its presence outside of MOCA will undoubtedly draw positive attention to Downtown and establish our city as a hub for artistic expression.”

Frank Stella (1936-2024) shaped generations of artists and audiences through radical innovation across painting, printmaking, and sculpture. As the culminating work of his Star series, Jacksonville Stacked Stars represents a capstone to a lifetime of experimentation—now permanently embedded in the fabric of Jacksonville’s streetscape.

“Placing this work on public view honors Stella’s decades of exploration while expanding access to art for students, families, and visitors,” said Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, Interim President of the University of North Florida. “It underscores MOCA’s role connecting gown to town, its educational mission as a valued part of the University of North Florida, and our commitment to the cultural life of our city.”

Positioned at the entrance of MOCA in the heart of downtown, the work will anchor the Laura Street corridor with a vivid, sculptural beacon—supporting street-level activity, reinforcing Jacksonville’s creative identity, and welcoming residents and visitors to explore Downtown’s art and culture.

“As a family, we believe that investing in culture creation can only embolden the strength of Jacksonville and our collective future,” said Shanna Khan, President of the Khan Family Foundation Inc. and CEO of Shanna Collective. “As Downtown Jacksonville continues to grow, Frank Stella’s iconic installation, Jacksonville Stacked Stars, strengthens a sense of place and supports the long-term growth that we are committed to fostering in the heart of our city.”

Installation Window: Completion by May 6, 2026Location: MOCA Jacksonville, 333 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FLCommunity Celebration: Community Celebration during May Art Walk on May 6, 2026 from 5–9 p.m.ABOUT MOCA JACKSONVILLE

Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville is one of the city’s most significant cultural assets. As the oldest art museum in Northeast Florida and one of the first contemporary art museums to be established in the United States, MOCA is focused on promoting the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists, and ideas of our time.

In 1924, a group of visionary local women artists came together to imagine the kind of city they wanted Jacksonville to be — the kind of community they wanted to live in and be a part of. At the core of their vision for a rich, vital, dynamic city were art, culture, and education. Thus, what we now call MOCA Jacksonville was born — first as a series of exhibitions by artists of the day, used as a fundraising tool to support public school education; then as a guild; and later as an art museum and educational leader.

In 2009, MOCA became a cultural institute of the University of North Florida and in 2025 the museum became one of only three percent of museums to achieve accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to American museums. More than a century later, MOCA’s mission remains focused on the art, artists, and ideas of our time, with a vision that unites education, creativity, and community building in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.

Among the most prominent contemporary art museums in the Southeast, MOCA’s exhibitions and programs set the pace for arts and art-integrated programming on a regional and national stage, with an emphasis on works created from 1960 to the present. Renowned in this community, MOCA casts the spotlight on Jacksonville as a burgeoning, vital arts destination. The museum is free to the public every Saturday during VyStar Free Saturdays at MOCA, as well as the first and third Wednesday evening of each month during Museum Nights at MOCA presented by Florida Blue.

For more information including hours of operation, admission prices, and upcoming exhibitions and programs, call 904-620-1214 or visit www.mocajacksonville.unf.edu.