Out of Many, One by Jorge Rodríguez‑Gerada

Out of Many, One is a large‑scale land artwork created by Cuban‑American artist Jorge Rodríguez‑Gerada. It was commissioned by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and installed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in October 2014.

The National Mall, Washington, D.C.

The National Mall is a large, open park in the center of Washington, D.C., stretching roughly two miles from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. It is often called “America’s front yard” because it is a symbolic and historical space for celebrations, protests, and public gatherings.

Key features and monuments:

• Capitol Building marks the eastern end of the Mall and is home to the U.S. Congress.
• Washington Monument, a tall obelisk dedicated to George Washington, located near the center of the Mall.
• Lincoln Memorial honors Abraham Lincoln and stands at the western end.
• World War II, Vietnam Veterans, and Korean War Memorials commemorate important events in American history.

The Mall is surrounded by museums, most of which are part of the Smithsonian Institution and offer free admission. These include:

• National Museum of American History
• National Air and Space Museum
• National Museum of Natural History

The National Mall hosts parades, concerts, political rallies, and festivals. It is a popular spot for walking, jogging, picnicking, and enjoying the cherry blossoms in spring.

The Mall is more than a park; it is a symbol of American democracy and history. Many national events, like presidential inaugurations have taken place here.

It covers about 146 acres of open space and green lawns, with tree-lined paths and reflecting pools, making it a central and accessible gathering place for locals and tourists alike.

Out of Many, One: what is it?

The work was a six‑acre “facescape”, a giant portrait made out of sand, soil, wooden pegs, and string. The design was mapped using satellite and GPS technology, and can be viewed in full only from above: from the Washington Monument observation deck or from space.

Meaning and title

The title Out of Many, One is the English translation of the Latin motto E pluribus unum, a traditional American phrase meaning that many individuals make one nation. The portrait itself is a composite face, created by merging features of dozens of young men from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds whom the artist photographed around Washington, D.C. The face symbolizes American diversity and collective identity rather than any single individual.

Visitors on the ground could walk through the artwork and see its textures and patterns up close, almost like a large natural drawing. However, the full effect, a unified human face, becomes clear only from a high vantage point or aerial perspective.

As with much of Rodríguez‑Gerada’s land art, the installation was intentionally temporary. After being on display through October 2014, the materials were tilled back into the ground so there was no negative environmental impact on the Mall’s landscape.

About the artist

Jorge Rodríguez‑Gerada is known internationally for his large‑scale urban portraits and land art that explore identity, community, and public space. He often uses local human subjects as models and creates ephemeral works intended to provoke reflection on collective identity and belonging.

Symbolism and Meaning of Out of Many, One

Out of Many, One is a type of public art with qualities of street art, but it is more accurately described as large-scale land art.

The artwork’s title comes from the motto E pluribus unum (“Out of many, one”), highlighting that many different people together form one nation.

The composite face is made from features of multiple young men of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, symbolizing America’s multicultural identity.

By merging dozens of individual faces into one giant portrait, Rodríguez‑Gerada emphasizes that a society’s identity is built collectively, not just by a single person.

The work encourages viewers to reflect on inclusion, representation, and shared humanity.

The full portrait can only be seen from high above, suggesting that understanding unity in diversity often requires a broader perspective.

Up close, the face dissolves into individual features, symbolizing that each person matters, yet together they form something larger.

The temporary materials remind viewers that identity and society are constantly evolving, and also demonstrate care for the environment.

By using local community members as models, Rodríguez‑Gerada connects the artwork to real people, reinforcing that collective identity is built from actual human experiences.

In short, Out of Many, One is not just a giant portrait, it’s a visual metaphor for unity, diversity, and the collective human spirit, encouraging people to think about both individuality and shared identity.