Weird and wonderful American public art installations

The art piece 'Non Violence' by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, a friend of John Lennon's family, is one of the world's most evocative pieces of public art. It was created to honor the former Beatle who was shot and killed in New York City in 1980. Set outside the United Nations headquarters, it's also known as the 'Knotted Gun' and has come to represent hope for a nonviolent future.

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'LOVE' -

Robert Indiana's iconic 1976 LOVE statue is emblematic of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. It's one of the most recognized pieces of public sculpture in the world, and has been reproduced around the globe.

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'Cadillac Ranch' -

'Cadillac Ranch' in Amarillo, Texas, consists of 10 paint-splattered Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground. The installation was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels, who were part of the art group Ant Farm. 'Cadillac Ranch' is not far from Route 66, the legendary Mother Road.

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'Chihuly Garden and Glass' -

Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit housed in the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington, showcasing the dazzling work of studio glass artist Dale Chihuly.

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'Seven Magic Mountains' -

Comprised of seven 10-m (30ft) towers of colorful, stacked boulder totems built by Ugo Rondinone, the 'Seven Magic Mountains' art installation near Las Vegas is seen here as Comet NEOWISE, or C/2020 F3, passes across the night sky.

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'Metalmorphosis' -

The ever-so-slightly sinister 'Metalmorphosis' is a mirrored water fountain designed by sculptor David Cerny. It watches over visitors to Whitehall Technology Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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'Mustangs' -

The beautiful 'Mustangs' statues set outside of the Williams Square office buildings in the Las Colinas area of Irving in Texas are particularly alluring when illuminated at night. The impressive bronze piece is the work of Robert Glen.

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'Prada Marfa' -

Artists Elmgreen and Dragset are responsible for 'Prada Marfa' at Valentine in Texas. The installation is set as a freestanding Prada storefront.

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'Crown Fountain' -

Designed by Jaume Plensa, this crowd-pleasing interactive work of public art and video sculpture in Chicago's Millennium Park features a fountain, the water of which is seemingly spat out by the tower's front face.

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'Spiral Jetty' -

Sculptor Robert Smithson constructed this earthwork sculpture on the northeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake near Rozel Point in Utah. It's made entirely of mud, salt crystals, and basalt rocks as a counterclockwise coil jutting from the shore of the lake.

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'Levitated Mass' -

Among the permanent exhibits at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in California is 'Levitated Mass,' a 340-ton megalith rock created by artist Michael Heizer.

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'Area 15' -

'Area 15' is one of Las Vegas' newest retail and entertainment centers. Created by Meow Wolf, the Nevada attraction features live events, experiential entertainment, immersive art installations, unique retail, and a number of funky bars and eateries.

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'Five Swords' -

Pictured is Alexander Calder's 'Five Swords' at the Storm King Art Center at Mountainville, New York. The facility features the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the United States. It was founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden as a museum for Hudson River School paintings.

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'Spoonbridge and Cherry' -

The sculptural fountain known as 'Spoonbridge and Cherry' is a cherished artwork that forms the centerpiece of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in Minnesota. It was conceived by celebrated sculptors Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

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'Depression Bread Line' -

The realistic-looking 'Depression Bread Line' by George Segal is one of many pieces of sculpture exhibited at the Grounds for Sculpture park and museum in Hamilton, New Jersey.

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'Clothespin' -

The 'Clothespin' sculpture in front of Philadelphia City Hall was designed by Claes Oldenburg, originally for the 1976 US bicentennial.

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'Spot' -

Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone is recognized for its quirky 'Spot' sculpture by Donald Lipski. Spot the Dalmatian is seen balancing a life-size New York City taxi on his nose.

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'Rocking Chair' -

At 17 m (56 ft), artist Jim Bolin's 'Rocking Chair' sculpture is the largest of its kind in the world, as verified by Guinness World Records. It can be admired in downtown Casey, Illinois.

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Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture -

Noah Purifoy's Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture is a vast expanse of environmental sculptures created in the high desert near Joshua Tree, California.

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'Balloon Flower (Red)' -

Jeff Koons' 'Balloon Flower (Red)' sculpture sits outside Seven World Trade Center in New York City, not far from Ground Zero.

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'The Sun' -

'The Sun" is an iconic sculpture by Ugo Rondinone located in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at City Park in New Orleans.

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'House of Eternal Return' -

Part Disney, part Burning Man, with elements of Doctor Who's TARDIS, a kids' assault course, and the set of a weird game show thrown in, the 'House of Eternal Return' in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was created by the same company responsible for 'Area 15' in Vegas.

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'Magic Gardens' -

Currently the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, the 'Magic Gardens' in Philadelphia is half a city block comprising of cement, bicycle spokes, bottles, ceramic shards, kitchen tiles, and other artistic knick-knacks and curios.

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Wynwood Walls -

Wynwood Walls in Miami draws the world's best graffiti artists to this vast outdoor canvas where huge street murals color the neighborhood.

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'Salvation Mountain' -

Leonard Knights' painted 'Salvation Mountain' on Beal Road outside of Niland in California encompasses numerous murals and areas painted with Christian sayings and Bible verses.

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'Bull Head' -

One of the top roadside attractions in America, the Porter Sculpture Park in Montrose, South Dakota, welcomes visitors with a 18-m (60 ft) bull head sculpture. Equal in size to the granite portraits of Mount Rushmore, it was created by Wayne Porter.

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'Changing Spaces' -

Visitors interact with a water installation called 'Changing Spaces' by artist Jeppe Hein. It's found at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, on this occasion decorated with Pride flags.

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'I See What You Mean' -

Lawrence Argent's 'I See What You Mean,' also known as the 'Big Blue Bear,' is a colossal sculpture of a grizzly that stands outside the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

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'Beethoven's Quartet' -

'Beethoven's Quartet' by Mark di Suvero is one of several contemporary sculptures showcased on isolated fields in view of the Beartooth Mountains at the Tippet Rise Art Center near Fishtail, Montana.

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'Bridge Over Tree' -

Set in front the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City is 'Bridge Over Tree' by Siah Armajani. It was originally exhibited in Minneapolis in 1970 and is now being shown again for the first time. It depicts a bridge over a small fir tree.

Sources: (Wide Walls) (Guinness World Records)

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Shutterstock

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'Cloud Gate' -

An amazing Chicago landmark, 'Cloud Gate' is by Anish Kapoor and is located in the city's Millennium Park. The sculpture reflects Chicago's stunning skyline.

Shutterstock

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'Non Violence' -

Getty Images

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'LOVE' -

Shutterstock

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'Cadillac Ranch' -

Shutterstock

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'Chihuly Garden and Glass' -

Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit housed in the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington, showcasing the dazzling work of studio glass artist Dale Chihuly.

Shutterstock

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'Seven Magic Mountains' -

Getty Images

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'Metalmorphosis' -

The ever-so-slightly sinister 'Metalmorphosis' is a mirrored water fountain designed by sculptor David Cerny. It watches over visitors to Whitehall Technology Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Shutterstock

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'Mustangs' -

Getty Images

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'Prada Marfa' -

Artists Elmgreen and Dragset are responsible for 'Prada Marfa' at Valentine in Texas. The installation is set as a freestanding Prada storefront.

Shutterstock

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'Crown Fountain' -

Shutterstock

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'Spiral Jetty' -

Shutterstock

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'Levitated Mass' -

Among the permanent exhibits at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in California is 'Levitated Mass,' a 340-ton megalith rock created by artist Michael Heizer.

Getty Images

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'Area 15' -

Shutterstock

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'Five Swords' -

Shutterstock

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'Spoonbridge and Cherry' -

Shutterstock

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'Depression Bread Line' -

The realistic-looking 'Depression Bread Line' by George Segal is one of many pieces of sculpture exhibited at the Grounds for Sculpture park and museum in Hamilton, New Jersey.

Getty Images

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'Clothespin' -

The 'Clothespin' sculpture in front of Philadelphia City Hall was designed by Claes Oldenburg, originally for the 1976 US bicentennial.

Getty Images

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'Spot' -

Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone is recognized for its quirky 'Spot' sculpture by Donald Lipski. Spot the Dalmatian is seen balancing a life-size New York City taxi on his nose.

Getty Images

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'Rocking Chair' -

At 17 m (56 ft), artist Jim Bolin's 'Rocking Chair' sculpture is the largest of its kind in the world, as verified by Guinness World Records. It can be admired in downtown Casey, Illinois.

Getty Images

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Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture -

Noah Purifoy's Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture is a vast expanse of environmental sculptures created in the high desert near Joshua Tree, California.

Shutterstock

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'Balloon Flower (Red)' -

Jeff Koons' 'Balloon Flower (Red)' sculpture sits outside Seven World Trade Center in New York City, not far from Ground Zero.

Getty Images

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'The Sun' -

'The Sun" is an iconic sculpture by Ugo Rondinone located in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at City Park in New Orleans.

Shutterstock

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'House of Eternal Return' -

Getty Images

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'Magic Gardens' -

Shutterstock

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Wynwood Walls -

Wynwood Walls in Miami draws the world's best graffiti artists to this vast outdoor canvas where huge street murals color the neighborhood.

Shutterstock

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'Salvation Mountain' -

Leonard Knights' painted 'Salvation Mountain' on Beal Road outside of Niland in California encompasses numerous murals and areas painted with Christian sayings and Bible verses.

Shutterstock

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'Bull Head' -

Getty Images

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'Changing Spaces' -

Visitors interact with a water installation called 'Changing Spaces' by artist Jeppe Hein. It's found at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, on this occasion decorated with Pride flags.

Getty Images

28 / 32 Fotos

'I See What You Mean' -

Lawrence Argent's 'I See What You Mean,' also known as the 'Big Blue Bear,' is a colossal sculpture of a grizzly that stands outside the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

Getty Images

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'Beethoven's Quartet' -

'Beethoven's Quartet' by Mark di Suvero is one of several contemporary sculptures showcased on isolated fields in view of the Beartooth Mountains at the Tippet Rise Art Center near Fishtail, Montana.

Getty Images

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'Bridge Over Tree' -

Sources: (Wide Walls) (Guinness World Records)

Getty Images

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Weird and wonderful American public art installations

Take a look at these remarkable artistic statements

19/03/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Culture

The United States is landmarked by numerous examples of fascinating public art installations. In fact, the nation serves as a vast canvas for artists and sculptors, visionary creatives who have produced some of the best-known works of art in the world. But where in America can you admire the most powerful and iconic pieces?

Click through and unveil these remarkable artistic statements.