Thousands of jack-o'-lanterns already glow across Descanso Gardens every fall, but this year a new kind of figure is joining them: life-sized human forms bent from wire that seem to hover, ghost-like, in the garden's labyrinth. They're the work of Helsinki-based artist Alexander Reichstein, and they'll be lit up by UV light after dark as part of Carved, the La Cañada Flintridge garden's annual nighttime event running October 2 through November 1.
Carved is described as an outdoor nighttime experience featuring thousands of whimsical jack-o'-lanterns and displays that capture the colors of autumn, according to NBC Los Angeles. This year's edition marks Reichstein's U.S. exhibition debut, according to Descanso Gardens, which notes the Helsinki-based artist creates intricate, otherworldly figures from hand-worked wire, transforming delicate lines into life-sized sculptures. The event runs nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., per Falko Events, at the garden's address of 1418 Descanso Drive.
Wire and UV Paint Bring the Labyrinth to Life
Reichstein's sculptures are built from galvanized wire coated in UV-reactive paint, the NBC Los Angeles report notes. Illuminated by UV light, the garden's own materials describe his ghostly creations as bringing a sense of wonder and mystery to the labyrinth. By day, visitors can see the sculptures up close and appreciate their fine craftsmanship; by night, they glow softly against the landscape, according to Local Anchor.
Descanso Gardens CEO Juliann Rooke said the garden is extremely excited to welcome Reichstein, adding that his sculptures are extraordinarily intricate up close, built by hand from wire — and spectacular once illuminated after dark, according to the same NBC Los Angeles report.
A Recurring Ghost Project With International Roots
The wire figures are part of Reichstein's ongoing “They Were Here” project, which uses translucent, life-sized figures that glow under ultraviolet light — in his words, “figures bent from wire and sprayed with fluorescent paint come to life like ghosts,” per his own site, reichstein.name. The project began in 2015 and has grown to more than 50 natural-size figures, according to the Finnish Society of Light Art's database. A version of the series was displayed at the Helsinki City Museum from December 3 through December 31, 2016, featuring human-sized transparent light sculptures depicting historic characters from the Finnish capital's past, according to the museum's own event listing. That installation was reportedly the audience favorite at the 2016 Lux Helsinki festival.
Reichstein's biography states his art has been exhibited in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Iceland, Italy, and France, among other countries, and the Finnish light art database separately lists appearances at festivals and museums in Finland, Germany, and France.
Pumpkins, Wood Spirits and a Día de los Muertos Display Round Out the Trail
Beyond the wire figures, Carved 2026 includes an elaborate Día de los Muertos display, whimsical wood spirits, an adorable railroad area, and supernatural creatures created solely from gourds, per the NBC Los Angeles account. Local Anchor's rundown adds the Pumpkin Forest, Harvest Acres food and drinks, seasonal lighting for the Descanso Railroad, Chainsaw Jenna's log sculptures, and Rhizome in the Oak Grove. The full trail takes about an hour to walk, according to the Falko Events listing.
Halloween night brings a special trick-or-treat event at no extra cost with Carved admission, per the same Falko Events listing. General-public tickets run $29 to $52 for non-member adults and $19 to $37 for non-member children depending on the date and time, according to Local Anchor's reporting, with additional ticketing tiers available. Descanso Gardens members can visit for free, while all other visitors must purchase a general admission ticket, according to the garden's own ticketing page.
