You don’t have to trek to a museum to see great art—often, you can find it outdoors. Public art allows everyone to experience the thrill of creative expression. From playful sculptures that interact with the environment to colorful mosaic staircases, these incredible displays brighten our world at large. And, best of all, you needn’t go far to see these types of fantastic creations. Often, they’re just beyond your doorstep. There are numerous pieces of public art in the U.S. that are just waiting for you to come and see them.
Public art isn’t limited to large metropolitan areas or museum-adjacent spaces. It can be in seemingly random or even isolated places. The Social Pool by artist Alfredo Barsuglia, for instance, is open to anyone who can find it. Currently, it’s in an undisclosed location in the Southern California desert. Barsuglia is vague about how to even get there, stating that it’s “several hours of driving from Los Angeles” and to visit it, you must be willing “to walk a long distance to reach the pool from the nearest road.” But among the sandy locale, its white, minimalist appearance looks like an oasis under the hot sun.
Get ready to pack your bags and take a “trip” to see spectacular works of public art in the U.S..
Chicago, Illinois
Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor
San Francisco, California
The 16th Avenue Steps by Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher
Photo source: Yellofish
Read more: San Francisco’s Secret Mosaic Staircase
Baltimore, Maryland
BUS by mmmm…
Read more: Playful Typography Sculpture Makes Waiting for the Bus More Fun
Fort Smith, Arkansas
The Universal Chapel by Okuda
Read more: Street Artists Transform City in Arkansas Into Their Own Outdoor Art Gallery
Las Vegas, Nevada
Seven Magic Mountains by Ugo Rondinone
Charlotte, North Carolina
Metalmorphosis by David Cerny
Read more: Giant Moving Head Steel Sculpture by David Cerny
Austin, Texas
Open Room by Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt
Photo credit: City of Austin Arts
Worthington, Ohio
71 Fountain
Photo credit: Kyle Wood
Reston, Virgina
A Bird in Hand by Patrick Dougherty
Photo credit: Greater Reston Arts Center, Greg Staley
Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Invasive Species by Isabelle Garbani
Photo credit: Kirsten K. Shockey
Birmingham, Alabama
LightRails by Bill FitzGibbons
Photo credit: REV Birmingham
Photo credit: REV Birmingham
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Freedom by Zenos Frudakis
New York City, New York
Life Underground by Tom Otterness
Casey, Illinois
World’s Largest Rocking Chair Sculpture by Jim Bolin
Photo credit: turkishjim
Read more: Small Town Is Filled With Giant Sculptures of Everyday Objects
World’s Largest Mailbox Sculpture by Jim Bolin
Photo credit: Big Things in a Small Town Facebook
Eugene, Oregon
Photo source: Eugene, Oregon
Somewhere in the Southern California Desert
Social Pool by Alfredo Barsuglia
Valentine, Texas
Prada Marfa by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset
Photo credit: Thessaly La Force
Coachella Valley, California
Mirage by Doug Aitken
Read more: Mirrored House Camouflages into the Mountainous Californian Desert
Seattle, Washington
Seattle Mosaic Mural by Paul Horiuchi
Photo credit: Spike Mafford Photography
Denver, Colorado
I See What You Mean by Lawrence Argent
Photo credit: Artists & Thieves
Phoenix, Arizona
Her Secret is Patience by Janet Echelman
Photo credit: Christina OHaver