Columbus, Ohio has some pretty iconic street art – if you ask us. Our city’s comprehensive public art initiatives and extraordinary talent from both local and visiting national artists offers thought-provoking and beautiful art. Whether you have five minutes or five hours to explore, use our guide below to check out some of Columbus’ best public art installations. (Murals not included!)
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The Slingshot
Andrew Lundberg is the artist who created the 20-ft tall sculpture known as The Slingshot. On the front of the installation, the date “1797” can be observed as a timestamp to remind onlookers of the year that Franklinton was settled in Columbus.
Promise for Life
Alfred Tibor was a holocaust survivor and became a sculptor. Tibor is the artist behind this well-known sculpture, The Promise for Life. Engraved on the bottom of the sculpture, the words read, “Out of the flames of human hate come the ashes of death. Out of the flame of God’s love comes the promise for life.” With jarring depth and significant truth, this sculpture serves as a beautiful beacon of Faith.
The Makers Monument
The Short North is a draw for both tourists and locals alike for its delicious food, entertainment, and nightlife. In addition to all of that, it also serves as a shared canvas for multiple artists. The Maker’s Monument is a celebration of High St. and its “ever-evolving landscape.” This monument is not only made of steel, but made to last as a testament to the individuality and history surrounding the Short North and Columbus, thanks to artist Mark Reigelman.
As We Are
Spawning from the mind of artist Matthew Mohr, this unique installation is located at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and stands 14-feet tall. On site, there is a photo booth that takes 3D photos where visitors can see a large-scale photo of their face depicted. This makes for a unique and powerful experience, and one heck of a selfie.
Unicorn in the Garden
Located in close proximity to the Thurber House, this unicorn statue, created by Jack Greaves, is based on the famous fable written by James Thurber. The entirety of the fable can be found near the statue!
Karnak
Just outside the Columbus Museum of Art is the Karnak which was designed by Paul Feeley in 1966. At 20-feet, it towers overhead in bright colors with an interesting “squiggle” pattern.
Navstar ’92
Located at the Franklin Park Conservatory, this Stephen Canneto sculpture exists as a celebration of Christopher Columbus’ monumental visit to America in the year 1492. It is made to resemble that of a sail, and it points to the North Star. This gleaming sculpture is a sight to behold.
In Principle and In Practice
This sculpture acts as both a fountain and an artful depiction of the words, “In Principle and In Practice.” Artist Malcolm Cochran designed this piece of art and it can be found outside the Ohio Supreme Court.
Current
Current is the largest public art installation in Columbus at an impressive 126 feet tall, 83 feet wide and 229 feet long. This sculpture was created by Janet Echelman and uses thousands of knots which hang over the intersection of Gay St. and High St. At night, it is illuminated and is a draw for locals around Columbus.
Scioto Lounge Deer
Perhaps the most famous of all public art installations in Columbus are the famous deer that perch atop the Scioto Riverfront. Created by sculptor Terry Allen, the three of them act as a tourist photo-op and help guide onlookers in locating some of the best views of the Columbus skyline.
Did we miss one? Send us a note!
