Public Art in Outdoor Spaces

I love to see art pieces in public spaces – they often liven up a place and generate conversation. Below are a few interesting installations found in the U.S. and Europe, both permanent and temporary, in quite a range of styles and materials.


Streetscape sculptures in downtown Portland, Oregon


Stainless steel piece incorporating running water in the Rose Test Garden of Portland, Oregon


Bronze elephants in the North Park Blocks of Portland, Oregon


Salvador Dali elephant along the Thames River in London


Series of stone sculptures in a park in Caunes-Minervois, France


Core-ten steel lobster in Woolwich, Maine


Wind-activated piece in the deCordova Sculpture Park, Lincoln, Massachusetts


Giant typewriter eraser in the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, Washington


Jellyfish in Elm Park, Worcester, Massachusetts


Hand-woven banners cover a footbridge in Elm Park, Worcester, Massachusetts


Barrel Monster is erected for a festival in Raleigh, North Carolina

Photos in Massachusetts and Oregon by Alice Webb
Photos in Washington, Maine, North Carolina, and European countries by Nancy Novell

One thought on “Public Art in Outdoor Spaces

  1. Those are really fun sculptures. They all seem to have a sense of humor, which is a good departure from the over serious ones so much in the past. Both kinds are worth while, but really, going to the park should encourage relaxation–and what better way than with humor.

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