Entry No. 49 — the Missoula file — filed under: art-immersive
2,710 Points of Light (Missoula Public Library)
A reflective light sculpture by Denver artist Mike Lustig, unveiled in January 2023, hanging in the Missoula Public Library stairwell that climbs from the parking level to the main floor. It's built from ten curved hexagonal mirror dishes packed with more than 2,710 individual glass tiles that catch and scatter light across the stairwell. Lustig says he uses mirrors as feedback systems "to provide viewers with opportunities to see themselves in new ways," and the piece is mounted low enough that people of any age can move in front of it and watch their reflection fracture across the tiles.
The story
Most library patrons hurry straight for the elevators or book stacks, completely oblivious to the light trap sitting in the transit space between the underground garage and the main floor lobby. Unveiled in January 2023, *2,710 Points of Light* is a permanent light-and-mirror sculpture by Denver artist Mike Lustig. Instead of hanging out of reach in a high vault, it sits directly along the concrete stairwell at 455 East Main Street.
The setup is deceptively deliberate: ten curved hexagonal dishes packed with thousands of individual glass mirror tiles shipped from Ukraine. Lustig designed the piece as a physical feedback system, deliberately placing it low enough to force passersby into the frame. As you step along the landing, the array captures the ambient stairwell light and shatters your image into thousands of sharp geometric pinpricks, turning a routine walk from your car into a quiet, disorienting optical experiment.
What it's like
Skip the elevator and take the concrete stairs coming up from the parking garage. The piece is mounted right at eye level, allowing you to walk directly up to the curved hexagonal dishes and watch your image split across the tiny glass tiles. Because it sits in a working public transit corridor, you will occasionally dodge patrons carrying armfuls of books—so if you want to linger and test out the reflection without interrupting foot traffic, aim for a quiet weekday morning.
The move: Slip into the new library's stairwell and take turns moving in front of the mirror dishes to make the light splinter, then browse the building's quiet corners together, totally free.
📍 Before you go Inside the Missoula Public Library on East Main; viewable for free during library open hours. It is a single permanent piece in the garage-to-lobby stairwell, not a full exhibit.
- 📍 Missoula
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Missoula Public Library, 455 E Main St, Missoula, MT 59802
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Squashed Cat (Cattin' Around) — Walk three blocks west to find another unusual piece of public art—a 1.5-ton concrete cat sprawled flat beside a parking garage entrance.
- Missoula Art Park — Head two blocks north to Pine and Pattee to transition from indoor mirror art to a free, open-air sculpture lawn.
- Union Club Bar & Grill — Stroll just a block west on Main Street for a quiet post-art drink inside a historic watering hole with century-old roots.
Good to know
Where in the library is the sculpture located?
It is mounted along the interior stairwell that connects the subterranean parking level to the main first-floor lobby.
Is there an admission fee or ticket required?
No, it is free to view anytime during standard Missoula Public Library operating hours.
Who made the piece and when was it installed?
Denver-based artist Mike Lustig created the piece, which was unveiled at the library in January 2023.
Where did the mirror tiles come from?
The sculpture incorporates more than 2,710 individual mirror tiles imported from Ukraine.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: nbcmontana.com · missoulian.com · mikelustig.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-24