Standing an impressive 20 feet tall, the "Space Lounger" sculpture created by Canadian painter and sculptor, Viktor Mitic, has officially touched down at the Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab in Sarasota. This awe-inspiring masterpiece is made of upcycled materials, steel, and painted fiberglass and pays homage to the ancient Mayan astronaut carving with a contemporary twist.

Mitic, who has spent most of his life living and working in the Toronto area, is now a Sarasota resident. He works in his tropical beachside studio, where he enjoys the views of his very own ‘Sculpture Studio Garden--a museum-like backyard that he is also proud to share with visitors. He was inspired to create the sculpture after visiting the UFO museum in Roswell, NM.

"I stumbled upon a captivating photograph suggesting an unconventional theory: that a Maya sarcophagus lid may depict an ancient king piloting a rocket ship," Mitic says. "I was intrigued by this fusion of ancient art and futuristic concepts and felt compelled to create my own interpretation. Utilizing upcycled materials, I jumped on a project to create a colorful and contemporary representation of this scene. The outcome? A towering, 20-foot-tall structure resembling a rocket, but less angular in form."

Mitic first met Ping Faulhaber, Co-founder and Director of Suncoast Science Center, through his friend, Diane Barth, Director of Johnson Singer Foundation. "I was kindly offered a tour of the science center, where we discussed their mission and the intersection of science and art," shares Mitic. "With the coordinated efforts of Jenn Sams Scott, Steven Piskoty, Eric McGrath, and a dozen super strong students, the installation of the Space Lounger went smoothly and based on the substantial amount of concrete poured at the base of the sculpture, it appears that the sculpture is intended to be there permanently!"