To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Independence Day (1776–2026), Italian land artist Dario Gambarin has created a new monumental earthwork dedicated to one of the founding values of American history: unity.
Created, as always, entirely freehand, using only a tractor, plough and rotary harrow on a 25,000-square-metre field of wheat stubble, the work continues Dario Gambarin’s artistic research, transforming the earth into a surface for civic and cultural reflection that engages in real time with the events of contemporary history.
The artwork features the inscription “AMERICA’S 250th”, alongside the word “UNITED” and the motto “WE STAND”, accompanied by the dates 1776–2026. The work was conceived as a tribute to the birth of a nation that made freedom and self-determination its guiding ideals, while also inviting reflection beyond the borders of the United States.
Today, at a time marked by international tensions, social divisions and profound geopolitical transformations, the message of the work takes on a broader meaning: it reminds us that the values that inspired the birth of America can still represent a shared heritage and an appeal for solidarity among peoples.
UNITED WE STAND does not merely evoke a historic motto. It becomes a universal declaration: together we face difficulties, together we preserve our common roots, and together we build the future, even when differing opinions, governments or temporary historical circumstances appear to divide us.
“The earth does not belong to a single nation. It is the place we all share. Through this work, I wish to celebrate an important anniversary in American history, but above all to remind people that unity is a responsibility that transcends every border. Differences and temporary disagreements are part of history; the ability to remain united is what enables peoples to look towards the future.”
Considered one of the leading figures in international Land Art, Dario Gambarin transforms agricultural fields into his visual canvas, creating monumental images of powerful symbolic impact that can only be fully seen from above. His art brings together aesthetic value, historical memory and civic commitment through a single universal language: the earth. Among his most significant works are monumental portraits and compositions dedicated to Pope Francis, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, George Orwell, Greta Thunberg, COP26 and Leonardo da Vinci, among others.
His work is recognised and appreciated throughout the world.
