By Chelsea Odufu, New Jersey | Project Management by Liquid PXL Fabricated by Abraca LAB
Burning Man | 2024

A Seat at the Throne is a large-scale, interactive public artwork by multidisciplinary artist Chelsea Odufu, created under the art collective Liquid PXL. Premiering at Burning Man 2024, the installation explores power, inclusivity, and the future through an Afro-futurist lens, offering a regal and reflective experience for participants of all backgrounds.

The sculpture stands 13 feet tall with a base of 8 by 6 feet and weighs approximately 600 pounds. Fabricated from weather-resistant aluminum and steel, and illuminated with programmable polycarbonate lighting, the throne fuses traditional African motifs with futuristic geometry. Laser-cut symbols and patterns reference ancestral legacies, while the structure’s towering form and radiant golden hue evoke both majesty and transcendence.

Designed to be fully interactive, the piece invites individuals to physically sit upon the throne—reclaiming a seat historically denied to many. In doing so, the artwork challenges viewers to reconsider societal power structures and the exclusionary norms that have traditionally governed access, status, and leadership. Who is allowed to lead? Who is worthy of reverence? A Seat at the Throne confronts these questions head-on, creating space for healing, dialogue, and collective empowerment.

Chelsea Odufu’s vision draws inspiration from Afro-futurism and diasporic heritage, underscoring the importance of self-expression, cultural reclamation, and visibility for marginalized voices. She cites the words of Marianne Williamson—“our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure”—as a thematic anchor for the work’s intention: to inspire others to embrace their light and rightful place in shaping the future.

The throne was brought to life through a dynamic collaboration between Liquid PXL and Abraca LAB, who translated Odufu’s conceptual framework into a structurally sound, beautifully illuminated reality. The result is an iconic, transportable sculpture that transcends form—serving as a ceremonial platform, a cultural statement, and a call to action for a more inclusive and regenerative world.