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On Thursday, March 27, a dedication ceremony was held for a new sculpture, Tulsa Blossom, that is installed just in front of the Visitor Center. The 14 ft. tall, metal sculpture called, Tulsa Blossom was created and gifted by Tulsa resident and emerging artist Ben Sinor and his wife Isabella through their company, BenDesigned, LLC.

By day Ben Sinor works as Engineering Manager at Linde’s Port of Catoosa manufacturing facility. While in college, Ben began to explore art, first through stop-animation video, and then through sculpture.
Ben was commissioned in late 2023 by the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin for a series of 9 sculptures, “Pollinating Activities”, installed in a public park there. In 2024, he was commissioned for a series of three larger-than-life cacti sculptures that will be installed in a Palm Springs, California public park later this year. Ben was also one of the finalists for the Tulsa Cry Baby Hill sculpture.

Ben shared his beginnings and inspiration for his sculpture Tulsa Blossom.

“Tulsa Blossom started as a personal proof-of-concept to showcase different techniques and refine my creative process against real world application. I wanted to build a piece that demonstrated my ability for cities while also laying the groundwork for a future nonprofit idea—one that would provide monumental sculptures to charities, either for fundraising auctions or as permanent installations. The flower sculpture was a natural choice, as I’ve always been drawn to its symbolism. However, as I worked on it late into the nights, I found myself reflecting on why I was so compelled to create it.

“I have known several young people impacted by cancer. When I was 18, a girl I had known since grade school passed away at 17 after battling cancer her entire life. We weren’t incredibly close, but her passing affected me significantly in hindsight. A few years later, my wife, Isabella, was diagnosed in our mid-20s with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thankfully, she overcame it, but those experiences shaped the way I view resilience, loss, and remembrance. A song lyric has always stuck with me: “The flower that never blossoms is quickly forgotten.” I have always thought of that sentiment and believe that the opposite is true.

“When I spoke with the Tulsa Botanic Garden about donating the Tulsa Blossom, I thought about how this sculpture, with its unchanging color and form, could represent the lasting impact of those who face illness. Many young lives are taken before they have the chance to fully bloom, but that does not mean they are forgotten. The people we lose, and even those who survive life-altering battles, live on in the small choices we make and the moments that shape us. This sculpture, to me, is a tribute to them—a statement that their presence, struggle, and their stories will always be carried forward within us as we blossom.”