Legal fight erupts over shipping container sculpture in posh Hamptons enclave as residents label towering display 'junkyard mess'

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 04:18, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 04:27, 13 July 2026 A colossal sculpture made from stacked steel shipping containers has ignited a bitter legal showdown in one of the Hamptons' most exclusive communities. Furious residents have branded the towering artwork a 'junkyard mess' and Montauk officials are now moving to force its removal. The eye-catching installation, a 60-foot-tall seated figure assembled from a dozen industrial shipping containers, has become the center of a growing battle over art, safety and property rights in the coastal town. Critics say the enormous structure has no place among the area's famously picturesque landscapes. The sculpture, titled 'Meditating Figure,' was created by Los Angeles artist Matt Johnson and installed on June 27 as part of the 'LA Monumental' exhibition at The Ranch, a 26-acre private gallery property on land that was once protected farmland. While supporters describe the piece as bold contemporary art, many local residents have interpreted the art on a different level. Some have blasted the sculpture as an eyesore that dominates the surrounding countryside, arguing it clashes dramatically with Montauk's natural beauty. East Hampton resident Mitchel Agoos was among the artwork's most outspoken critics. East Hampton officials have launched legal action over a 60-foot shipping container sculpture installed in Montauk on Long Island The artwork, 'Meditating Figure,' is constructed from 12 steel shipping containers. The sculpture was installed on June 27 at The Ranch, a 26-acre private gallery in Montauk Artist Matt Johnson has created something similar in the past. Here he is posing in front of his piece Sleeping Figure in the Coachella Valley near near Desert Hot Springs, California in 2023 'They're grotesque and ugly and out of place on Old Montauk Highway,' he said to the New York Post, describing the towering containers as a 'monstrosity.' Agoos added that each of the massive 40-foot shipping containers reminded him of the troubled East 42nd Street skyscraper in Manhattan that recently sparked safety concerns. 'It detracts from the gorgeous landscape,' he said. 'I wouldn't want this near me – it's dreck.' Others shared similar judgments.  Dr. Jennifer Jablow, of Southampton, called the sculpture 'unsightly.' 'Most of the sculptures out here enhance the area's nature – not fight it,' she said. 'We live out here for the beauty of the nature, and this feels very rough.' The artwork depicts a giant figure seated cross-legged in the lotus position, with its arms resting on its knees. According to the gallery, the sculpture represents a 'deity built by capital and consumption; a reality of the daily contemporary experience,' describing it as a 'contemplative giant.' Town officials allege the installation was erected without the required building permit and certificate of occupancy Some residents have called the sculpture a 'monstrosity' that detracts from the surrounding landscape. Others have described the installation as 'unsightly' But while the gallery celebrates the work's symbolism, East Hampton officials are focused on something far more practical. During a meeting Tuesday, the East Hampton Town Board voted 4-1 to begin legal action against The Ranch after concluding the gallery had allegedly failed to obtain the required building permit and certificate of occupancy. Town spokesman Patrick Derenze confirmed the vote. Town attorney Jake Turner argued that a structure constructed by joining together enormous steel containers required proper safety oversight before being erected. 'If we don't take action then we are compromising the safety of the residents,' Turner said. He stressed that the legal dispute is not about artistic expression. 'It's not a matter of what is being displayed, but how it's being displayed ... and make sure it's legal.' The town maintains that even installations on private property must comply with applicable building regulations. Gallery owner and art dealer Max Levai insists officials are overreaching. 'If I'd like to display sculptures on my property for my enjoyment, that's my right,' he said. 'And if they're not structures, they don't need to be permitted.' Levai said he had not yet been formally notified of any legal proceedings and noted that obtaining a building permit can take as long as five months. He argued that such a timeline would stretch well into the exhibition, which is scheduled to remain open until November 15. 'I want this resolved and for everybody to be happy,' he said. The controversy has spilled well beyond town hall. The exhibition 'LA Monumental' is scheduled to remain on display through November 15 Johnson said the nearby horses create a meaningful contrast with the shipping containers, noting that horses once transported goods before containers took on that role On social media, many commenters ridiculed the installation. 'They call it art? It's a friggin' junkyard mess,' one person wrote. Another compared the sculpture to heavy traffic, writing: 'Looks like the Long Island Expressway during Friday rush hour.' But Artist Richard Sichel dismissed the backlash saying opponents were making far too much of the installation. 'This isn't a controversial sculpture – it's just ballbusters,' Sichel said. 'It looks like one of the Transformers – it's really quite fun. Art is always a statement.' Johnson, whose work towers above the surrounding fields, said he intentionally positioned the sculpture so travelers approaching from the Montauk Lighthouse would see it rising above the landscape. He said the nearby horses add another layer of meaning. 'The juxtaposition of the horses nearby is particularly poignant as it was not so long ago that a horse and carriage served people's need for transporting goods as these containers now do,' Johnson said. The artist emphasized that he has no involvement in the legal dispute now unfolding. 'I'm just an artist trying to make interesting work,' he said to the Post. The clash comes in a community with a long artistic tradition. Montauk became closely associated with artists decades ago, including pop art icon Andy Warhol, who helped cement the area's reputation as a creative retreat.