di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art Welcomes Home Its Iconic Sheep Sculptures with Sheep Roundup Oct. 25 in Napa Valley

Restored by board president Gordon Huether, Veronica di Rosa’s 22 sheep return to Carneros as di Rosa marks a new chapter

NAPA, CA, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa Valley, California, will celebrate the return of its 22 iconic sheep sculptures, an artwork by co-founder Veronica di Rosa, with the di Rosa Sheep Roundup Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. at 5200 Sonoma Highway in Napa. The afternoon of barbecue, music and art will include di Rosa's first-ever sheep naming auction, where guests can bid to name one of the sculptures for a year, with proceeds supporting the flock's return to the front pasture.

For years, the metal sheep sculptures were a familiar sight to drivers along Sonoma Highway before being removed from di Rosa's front pasture for restoration. Over the past several months, di Rosa board president and artist Gordon Huether and his Napa studio team have returned the flock to its original state. Each sculpture was meticulously sandblasted and restored with a durable powder coat finish so it will last for generations. The restoration was made possible through Huether's generous gift of his studio's time, craftsmanship and resources, with additional financial support from di Rosa board secretary Madalene Rose.

"The return of the sheep is more than a restoration," said Rachel Miers, interim executive director of di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art. "It's symbolic of who we are and where we're going: art and nature, intertwined, each elevating the other. It also reminds us of what our founders wanted di Rosa to be: a place where art is accessible, funky and fun."

Guests will enjoy barbecue, wine and beer, live music, kids' activities, art and hay bale seating, along with remarks from di Rosa's staff, board and partners.

The homecoming arrives at a moment of renewal for di Rosa. Under a new board and leadership team, the organization is embracing a fresh vision for its future while honoring the legacy of founders Rene and Veronica di Rosa.

The celebration will also honor the protection of di Rosa's upper ridge. Through a partnership with the Land Trust of Napa County and the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District, approximately 162 acres of di Rosa's scenic Carneros ridgeline, including Milliken Peak, are being preserved as public open space, with plans for a new public hiking trail to the summit. The trail, which will be lined with large format sculptures, will invite more people to experience art in the landscape, in keeping with Rene di Rosa's original vision of an art and nature preserve.

The di Rosa Sheep Roundup Celebration takes place Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, 5200 Sonoma Highway, Napa, California, in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. Admission is $125, and children 12 and younger are free. $80 of each ticket is tax deductible. Tickets are available online, and those unable to attend can support di Rosa's new chapter through the same page.

About di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art


Founded by Rene and Veronica di Rosa, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art is a nonprofit art center and home to the world's foremost collection of Northern California art, with more than 1,600 works. Set in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, di Rosa's Napa campus features galleries, a sculpture meadow with nearly 80 outdoor works and a serene lake, all dedicated to its founding mission of art and nature. di Rosa San Francisco, at Minnesota Street Project, brings the collection into the heart of the city. For more information, visit www.dirosaart.org.

Rachel Miers
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
+1 925-787-7557
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