July 22, 2025

Pizen Switch Times

established 2021

Moonlight Serpent : This is Breceda's masterpiece in the Borrego Springs Desert. The head is over fifteen feet tall and the body extends 350 feet as it goes under the nearby road. Photographer Richard Massey

Ricardo Breceda – Master Sculptor

Mason Valley, Nevada’s resident photojournalist Richard Massey shares with us his spring 2025 adventure showcasing the works of Ricardo Breceda. Exposure to the sun & desert elements only enhances Brededa’s sculptures. Richard’s master photography captures the essence of Ricardo’s work. -PSTimes

Through my career as a photojournalist, I have gained cherished memories from international assignments and the many friends I have made along the way.

My favorite experiences have been when I was able to have one-on-one interviews with fascinating individuals. One such occasion happened recently when I had the honor of interviewing one of America’s premier metal sculptors. Often referred to as “The Accidental Artist,” Ricardo Breceda is best known for his 130 life-sized metal sculptures that grace the desert areas around Borrego Springs, about sixty miles south of Palm Springs in southern California.

I first heard about Breceda when I was doing a story about the Bighorn Crossing Cafe at Walker Lake. In front of the cafe is a nine-foot-tall Breceda sculpture of a large snake-like serpent. I did a bit of research about the artist and became fascinated by his work. I read articles and saw pictures of his many life-sized sculptures of dinosaurs, desert animals, whimsical creatures, and historic figures. It was then that I decided that I needed to meet him in person.

Ricardo Breceda’s Serpent sculpture at the Bighorn Crossing at Walker Lake, Nevada; February 2024 by photographer Richard Massey.

My sister, Susan, and I were planning a camping trip for early spring, and since she lives near San Diego, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was an ideal spot to meet. I was delighted to learn that the area is the first international certified dark-sky location in California and only the second in the world. This meant it was ideal for photography of the night sky…one of my favorite activities.

It wasn’t long before the idea for an epic photo began to develop. Probably the most iconic Breceda sculpture is a huge, 350-foot-long serpent that seems to swim through the desert sands. His head alone stands nearly fifteen feet tall. (See cover photo.) My goal was to photograph this massive creature at night with the Milky Way towering overhead. I had seen dozens of pictures of this serpent but nothing like what I had in mind.

While planning the trip, I learned that Breceda lives on a beautiful twenty-acre spread in the mountains just north of San Diego.

This location is also home to his workshops and a massive open-air gallery featuring hundreds of his pieces, both large and small. I contacted Ricardo and arranged an interview.

The entrance to the Breceda outdoor Gallery: The 20-acre gallery is nestled in the rolling hills of Aguanga, just a few miles East of Temecula in southern California.

The Open-Air Gallery

Although Breceda is best known for his large sculptures, he also creates beautiful smaller pieces that are highly desired by collectors and interior decorators. It was in one of his smaller workshops that we had our interview. It was a delightful time as he graciously gave me a tour of his large, open-air gallery and sculpture garden in Aguanga.

Ricardo’s small workshop: This is where he creates his smaller pieces. His larger works are completed in either the large welding studio or outside.

Towering over the area is a hill with a dozen life-sized metal sculptures of dinosaurs and a depiction of the legendary Don Quixote.

The Legendary Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho Panza: These life-sized figures depict the fictional characters in the 1605 novel by Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes. Sancho Panza was Don Quixote’s squire.

During the interview I learned how Ricardo became the “accidental artist.” After moving to the U.S. from Mexico, he worked in construction and had a major injury that put an end to heavy lifting. Soon after, he took up welding and about the time Jurassic Park hit the screens, his daughter asked him to make her a metal dinosaur sculpture. She was expecting a small decorative piece. What she received was a twenty-foot-tall T-Rex! Things took off from there.

The two Ricardos, Author Richard Massey and Ricardo Breceda: Some folks travel with their business cards but Ricardo travels everywhere with his T-Rex! This T-Rex is great for advertising. Note the shiny metal. All his metal sculptures start out this way but over time they begin the develop a beautiful rust color. Photo by Richard Massey.

As his skills developed and his works began to sell, Breceda was approached by Dennis Avery, heir of the famed Avery label company. Avery had a vision of creating large sculptures that would be spread throughout his desert properties around Borrego Springs. He wanted the sculptures to tell the history of the area and he wanted the public to have free and easy access.

After seeing Breceda’s beautifully detailed life-sized dinosaurs, he had the idea to start the story with the first creatures that roamed the area over 200 million years ago. It wasn’t long before he commissioned Breceda and together they created one of the most unique and educational attractions in the Southwest. While the majority of the pieces were created between 2008 and 2012, he continues to receive commissioned works in the area.

Dinosaur Hill: Towering above Breceda’s twenty-acre outdoor gallery is a line of life-sized dinosaurs. These are just a few of the over 500 pieces on display.

At his studio/gallery you can purchase any of the displayed pieces, or if you prefer a custom piece, just provide the idea and a sketch or picture. Ricardo will help you develop your vision into a reality.

Breceda’s Art Gallery is located at 44450 Highway 79 S, Aguanga, CA. It is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, with a $10 admission fee for adults and free for children.

The Borrego Springs Sculptures

While most of the sculptures are realistic depictions of creatures that roamed the area during the Jurassic period, many pieces are fanciful creatures based on fairy tales and legends.

Wind God Bird: Because of its tremendous size, visitors assume this giant bird was one of Breceda’s fanciful creatures, but no, it really did exist and had a wingspan of 20 feet! Fossils of this bird date as far back as 3.5 million years and is thought to be the largest bird to ever take to the skies. Crafted with incredible detail, is a nest containing baby birds and a serpent exposing its fangs.

The most spectacular piece is a 350-foot-long serpent that extends all the way under the road! The magnificent head of this creature stands nearly fifteen feet tall. As mentioned, photographing this serpent at night was a major goal of the trip.

After securing our campsite at the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Susan and I visited the Chamber of Commerce and picked up a map detailing the location of the sculptures. Borrego Springs is a small community with just one gas station, a few convenience stores, and some excellent dining options. Aside from a few small hotels, the majority of accommodations are in resort-type settings. Most notably of these is the Rams Hill Resort that is home to a championship, Tom Fazio golf course.

Willys Jeep: Aside from the spectacular 350-foot-long serpent, this is one of my favorites in the area known as Galetta meadows. Note the attention to detail…especially in the flowing hair of the occupants.

At the center of town is a large roundabout known as the Christmas Circle Park. Here is where you will find the Visitor Center. The sculptures are in two areas north of Christmas Circle in an area called Galleta Meadows. The others are in a beautiful open desert landscape a few miles south of town.

One of the things I appreciate most about Breceda’s sculptures in Borrego-Springs is that they are so much more than amazing pieces of art. The way they are arranged tells fascinating stories about the evolution of time and life.

Claws of T-rex: Details of the massive life-sized claws of a T-rex about to do battle.

If you have the opportunity to visit the Palm Springs area, I would highly recommend planning a day or two to explore Borrego Springs.

Grasshopper and Scorpion: Like many of the 130 sculptures that dot this unique desert area, the grasshopper and scorpion create a fascinating dynamic as the scorpion seems to be about to attack the grasshopper. This air of tension is a common thread that runs through many of Breceda’s works.

Saber-toothed Tiger attacking an ancient horse: This is another example of prehistoric creatures interacting and illustrates Breceda’s tremendous attention to detail.

The optimal time would be in March or April when the desert and hills to the West could explode in a kaleidoscope of color. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California, has excellent reviews and is ideal for anyone interested in RV or tent camping.

Two T-Rexes: Richard’s sister, Susan, adds a bit of scale and color to the scene as she photographs these life-sized creatures. They are only a few of the dozen sculptures found in the area a few miles south of Borrego Springs.

Know before you go:

ricardoabreceda.com

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

https://www.borregospringschamber.com

Richard Massey is an international award-winning photojournalist and freelance-writer. He has a passion for film and does much of his photography using vintage film cameras…as seen here. His interest in teaching has led him to start a photography YouTube   channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChdW0Jjsca47EpKE5N_jtag

Photo by Robin Travis