From Yellow to Iconic: The Patina Magic Behind Palm Springs’ Bronze Banana
a gleaming 7-foot bronze banana rises from the desert garden
n the heart of The Parker Palm Springs, a gleaming 7-foot bronze banana rises from the desert garden like a wink to the gods of modern design. Created by renowned designer Jonathan Adler and fabricated by American Fine Arts Foundry (AFA), the sculpture has become an instant icon — playful, surreal, and monumentally crafted.
While the banana’s form suggests whimsy, its making represents something profound: the evolution of AFA into a complete partner for monumental and architectural sculpture, where artistry, engineering, and installation merge seamlessly.
A Collaboration in Bronze
When Jonathan Adler — famed for his eclectic, optimistic interiors — redesigned The Parker, he wanted an artwork that embodied the spirit of Palm Springs: bold, humorous, and unapologetically modern. His vision was a 7-foot-tall bronze banana, a surreal twist on luxury that would greet guests with joy and irreverence.
To transform that playful sketch into a structural reality, Adler turned to American Fine Arts Foundry, a Los Angeles-based team known for fusing traditional lost-wax craftsmanship with contemporary engineering precision.
The AFA artisans sculpted, cast, and patinated every curve with exquisite attention to form, balance, and finish. What looks lighthearted is, in truth, an engineering feat — a solid bronze sculpture that stands proudly in the desert sun, weathering heat and time with the dignity of fine art.
Beyond Foundry Work — A Monumental Process
AFA’s work on the Parker Banana marked a turning point for the company. What began as a casting commission became a symbol of AFA’s expanded role as a full-service partner for artists, architects, and designers working at scale.
Today, AFA isn’t just a foundry — it’s a monument-making partner. The team guides each project from concept through engineering, fabrication, finishing, shipping, and on-site installation, ensuring precision and excellence at every stage.
“We don’t just pour bronze,” says Brett Barney, AFA’s CEO. “We bring visions to life — managing every detail from digital modeling to installation on site. Our clients trust us because we deliver the extraordinary with reliability.”
Engineering Meets Artistry
Working at monumental scale requires more than creative intuition — it demands deep technical fluency. AFA’s artisans and engineers balance aesthetic intent with material physics, ensuring structural integrity without compromising beauty.
In the case of Adler’s banana, AFA developed custom internal supports to keep the sculpture perfectly balanced while maintaining its sleek, seamless exterior. Every weld was hidden. Every curve was polished to perfection. The final touch — a rich, luminous patina — gives the piece its timeless glow.
This synthesis of craft and technology has become AFA’s signature. Whether producing a soaring war memorial, a corporate centerpiece, or a monumental public artwork, AFA brings equal parts creativity, precision, and logistical mastery.
The Future Is Monumental
AFA’s current trajectory is clear: more monumental, more integrated, more visionary. The foundry’s refined process now serves large-scale sculptors, architects, and municipalities across the country. From design consultation and digital modeling to fabrication and field installation, AFA delivers projects that transform both space and story.
“Monumental doesn’t just mean big,” Barney adds. “It means meaningful — art that shapes public life, defines identity, and lasts for generations.”
A Legacy of Collaboration
The Parker Palm Springs banana stands as a bronze testament to the power of partnership — between artist and craftsman, design and engineering, imagination and execution. It proves that even humor can be sculpted in metal and that monumental art begins with a shared vision.
As AFA looks ahead, the company continues to expand its collaborations with public art programs, city commissions, and large-scale sculptors who see bronze not as material but as legacy.
From the first sketch to the final bolt tightened at installation, AFA delivers the full journey — art engineered to endure.
Because at American Fine Arts Foundry, monumental isn’t just about size.
It’s about scale, purpose, and permanence.
