Incorporating geometric grid lines, comic book graphics, and glittery plastic, ​Malibu ​indicates the landscape of 1960s Pop Art and minimalist sculpture. The piece hints at Smithson’s thoughts on contemporary culture - namely, that it was image-centric, commercially driven, and fleeting in its appeal. Smithson argued against the notion that art need only be objectively interesting, free from illusion or metaphor. In this flashy amalgamation of plastic, named after the hotbed of Hollywood glamour, Smithson has inserted a criticism beneath the aesthetic. His playful adaptations and outspoken opinions put Smithson at competitive odds with many of his contemporaries.