# Public art that's actually good **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050 "2026-06-20T13:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/21 "2026-06-21T00:21:40Z")
Sacramento has an annual event called [Wide Open Walls](https://www.wideopenwalls.com/) where building owners with large blank walls allow artists to paint murals on them. There are many such murals around the city, but I will share this one that had a brief appearance in the film _Lady Bird_. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!4v1782001276091!6m8!1m7!1sCAi7-JONZFedzmxNVsAdSQ!2m2!1d38.57099638167831!2d-121.4764054381758!3f288.13965755994525!4f-1.1692891144509616!5f1.4721474255754905 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/22 "2026-06-21T00:39:07Z")
I always felt the Serra sculpture was supposed to be viewed from the inside, looking out. And the city’s stubborn insistence to remove every building and tree between the sculpture and the Arch spoiled what I’m guessing was Serra’s original vision for the installation. Damn life, getting in the way of true art, and leaving us with some random steel slabs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/23 "2026-06-21T02:01:05Z")
Looking it up online, it looks like you two are referring to a triangle of steel plate slab walls? That’s sort of a nothing as public art goes: Nothing impressive about it, but it’s not actively ugly, either. Could be a lot worse. But let’s get back to the good ones. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/24 "2026-06-21T02:02:47Z")
Georgiia Gerber’s delightful animals of the Northwest. [![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9bc910d74562cd70664fab/1613849991920-N74A6WO8BI6JJEYORZJD/09-Portland-Pineer-Square.jpg) ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9bc910d74562cd70664fab/1613849991920-N74A6WO8BI6JJEYORZJD/09-Portland-Pineer-Square.jpg) > **[Oregon Wildlife — Georgia Gerber](https://georgiagerber.com/public-art/oregon-wildlife)** > > Pioneer Courthouse Portland, Oregon 1986 Indigenous animals of the Northwest placed on, in, and around a series of sidewalk fountains located on both sides of the Historic Pioneer Courthouse, on Yamhill and Morrison Streets in downtown Portland.... ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/25 "2026-06-21T08:33:13Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I guess the [metal sculptures in Borrego Springs](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/19194) might qualify. Link doesn’t work outside the U.S. Alternate link: > **[Borrego Springs Sculptures: The Ultimate Guide to Galleta Meadows](https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/borrego-springs-sculptures/)** > > How to find all the unique Borrego Springs sculptures in the desert—serpent, dinosaurs and more. Includes an Anza Borrego sculptures map. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/26 "2026-06-21T11:39:20Z")
Here in England I quite like: [angel of the north - Search Images](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=ECO73K1L&id=305BCCE0849809C31774C1E6C7371729A73F3D97&thid=OIP.ECO73K1LIdBRD4MtfdtQ4QHaEQ&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.thecollector.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2Ffacts-about-the-angel-of-the-north.jpg&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.1023bbdcad4b21d0510f832d7ddb50e1%3Frik%3Dlz0%252fpykXN8fmwQ%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0&exph=690&expw=1200&q=angel+of+the+north&FORM=IRPRST&ck=CC289FC7EC035BFFD994EF1D1BF5C7D9&selectedIndex=4&itb=0&cw=1721&ch=823&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) [nelson’s column - Search Images](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=NfvkbSNE&id=4B1A78A82AFDFD1E314023586BF7FCDF211BE3F6&thid=OIP.NfvkbSNEyFSI97GLKGdfnQHaKx&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.britannica.com%2F30%2F242430-050-C6BC98D7%2FNelson%27s-Column-Trafalgar-Square-London-England-Great-Britain.jpg&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.35fbe46d2344c85488f7b18b28675f9d%3Frik%3D9uMbId%252f892tYIw%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0&exph=1600&expw=1100&q=nelson%27s+column&FORM=IRPRST&ck=6A5A9F855E2FE651D0C972C727506FA6&selectedIndex=0&itb=0&cw=1721&ch=823&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/27 "2026-06-21T12:22:05Z")
Saw this guy while walking in Manhattan: [![](https://i.ibb.co/b5nCbYfZ/NYC-Yellow-Dude.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/b5nCbYfZ/NYC-Yellow-Dude.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/28 "2026-06-21T12:30:34Z")
Not sure if it entirely qualifies as “public art” (it has a long complicated history), but my wife and took a side trip during our Puerto Rican vacation to see the Birth of the New World: > **[Birth of the New World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_the_New_World)** > > The Birth of the New World (Spanish: Nacimiento del Nuevo Mundo, colloquially known as La estatua de Colón, lit. Columbus's Statue) is a 361 foot (110 m) bronze sculpture located on the Atlantic coastline of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. When completed in 2016, it became the tallest sculpture in North America, (as well as the tallest not only in the United States, but in the Western Hemisphere in general) surpassing Mexico's Guerrero Chimalli (which measures 197 feet or 60 meters in height including ... ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/29 "2026-06-21T16:13:20Z")
I like the Eye in downtown Dallas. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Eye_sculpture_Dallas.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Eye_sculpture_Dallas.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/30 "2026-06-21T16:32:11Z")
I am a mural artist(or was). It’s steekin’ political even in the smallest town. I painted a mural on a brick wall of the old general store in a town of 499. I kid you not, everyone from grandmas to little kids came to gawk and “give” their opinion the 6 days I worked on it.. The little town is the gateway to a small sport fishing lake. So I determined with two ancient city council members to paint fish. Natural fish that are found in the lake. Well…I thought it was beautiful. I love Fish! Some kid ask me why I didn’t add Nemo. Gahhh! ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/31 "2026-06-21T16:34:31Z")
Lots to choose from in San Francisco, but I’ll submit Cupid’s Span. [![](https://cdn.funcheap.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/50891762026_2233c55401_h-e1658601402145.jpg) ](https://cdn.funcheap.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/50891762026_2233c55401_h-e1658601402145.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/32 "2026-06-21T16:34:39Z")
[Alebrijes En San Jose](https://www.thetech.org/the-tech-insider-blog/blog-posts/alebrijes/) was a cool but sadly only temporary installation of giant Oaxacan mythical creatures. [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPhPwzpR-NjwFWR1yNli4m9oUVvAWA21sGlD3PDS1rk8UZaLLUAdovsAtzdDeNHNE4sKQKw9XeMhd2lRmPsVhxM4zYYj3hg-EHQCz_Ua9uk2DW0F_We1HzGs5pXYMwfP3CPIXZTREibqOmQT66n_ZQqEQ=w795-h795-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPhPwzpR-NjwFWR1yNli4m9oUVvAWA21sGlD3PDS1rk8UZaLLUAdovsAtzdDeNHNE4sKQKw9XeMhd2lRmPsVhxM4zYYj3hg-EHQCz_Ua9uk2DW0F_We1HzGs5pXYMwfP3CPIXZTREibqOmQT66n_ZQqEQ=w795-h795-s-no?authuser=0) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/33 "2026-06-21T17:10:24Z")
I’m partial to this one because my uncle designed it. It’s called Battle Bows, and is part of the All Veterans Memorial in Dubuque, Iowa: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55348997185_6ee3c38032_b.jpg "Battle Bows design tom nisbet wis state journal jun 3 1987") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/197666118@N08/55348997185/in/dateposted-public/) The colored part on the inside represents military ribbons. [Veterans Memorial - Dubuque Arboretum](https://dubuquearboretum.net/veterans-memorial/) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/34 "2026-06-21T21:03:21Z")
I was coming in here to post that. I’m also a fan of the cattle drive statue installation near the Dallas Convention Center. [sunrise-panorama-of-cattle-drive-sculpture-at-pioneer-plaza-downtown-dallas-north-texas-silvio-ligutti.jpg (900×450)](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/sunrise-panorama-of-cattle-drive-sculpture-at-pioneer-plaza-downtown-dallas-north-texas-silvio-ligutti.jpg) The above is definitely a pro photographer image; here’s what it looks like for real: https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sQr9213xTZSvY8mzO2oczDQ%212m2%211d32.7767436%212d-96.8018422%213f155.76%214f8.99%215f0.75 Not nearly so cool are the [Traveling Man statues](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-traveling-man-dallas-texas) a bit East over in Deep Ellum. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/35 "2026-06-21T23:06:56Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Not nearly so cool are the [Traveling Man statues](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-traveling-man-dallas-texas) a bit East over in Deep Ellum. Hehe, I’d seen at least one of those, but didn’t know the full story. Thankya! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/36 "2026-06-21T23:39:00Z")
I always enjoyed the various [cow parades](https://cowparade.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/37 "2026-06-22T00:03:41Z")
Berlin has statues of bears everywhere you go. [![](https://www.buddy-baer.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Idea/Buddy-Bear-Beginning.jpg) ](https://www.buddy-baer.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Idea/Buddy-Bear-Beginning.jpg) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Buddybear_Athen.jpg/250px-Buddybear_Athen.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Buddybear_Athen.jpg/250px-Buddybear_Athen.jpg) [![](https://i0.wp.com/almostdiplomatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Almost-Diplomatic-Berlin-Buddy-Bears-12.jpg?resize=810%2C539&ssl=1) ](https://i0.wp.com/almostdiplomatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Almost-Diplomatic-Berlin-Buddy-Bears-12.jpg?resize=810%2C539&ssl=1) [![](https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.charleston.edu/dist/a/1035/files/2022/07/buddy-bear-2-e1658495242121-768x1024.jpg) ](https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.charleston.edu/dist/a/1035/files/2022/07/buddy-bear-2-e1658495242121-768x1024.jpg) [![](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/T7NR7M/the-one-world-buddy-bear-statue-in-berlin-T7NR7M.jpg) ](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/T7NR7M/the-one-world-buddy-bear-statue-in-berlin-T7NR7M.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/38 "2026-06-22T00:31:46Z")
Speaking of Chicago, I was pretty impressed by the giant Muddy Waters mural in the Loop. [![](https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/24/e5/a6/6b/muddy-waters-mural-17.jpg?w=1100&h=600&s=1) ](https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/24/e5/a6/6b/muddy-waters-mural-17.jpg?w=1100&h=600&s=1) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/39 "2026-06-22T01:09:46Z")
It looks like there are a few standard models of bears that someone’s distributing, and then everyone chooses how to paint their own bear? Someone used to do that in Asiantown here with the zodiac animal every year, but I haven’t seen any lately. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050/40 "2026-06-22T01:15:51Z")
Love those! We have a couple small alebrijes we’ve purchased on vacations so it would be cool to see large-scale versions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-art-thats-actually-good/1031050.md?page=3)