Lincoln's public art: Where to find the community’s standout pieces
Lincoln is home to many public art pieces, from longstanding statues to temporary public art projects. Take a look at some.
Torn Notebook
"Torn Notebook," by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, at the corner of 12th and Q streets, is one of the public art masterworks in Lincoln.
Reflection
The sculpture "Reflection," by Albert Paley, is located at Ninth Street and Salt Creek Parkway. The sculpture previously was on display in New York as part of the "Paley on Park Avenue" exhibition.
Old Glory
Artist Mark di Suvero used red beams to create Old Glory, located at Cather Garden on UNL campus, to represent the flag when seen against a blue sky with clouds.
Pitch, Roll & Yaw
Pitch, Roll & Yaw, a new sculpture by Lincoln artist Shannon Hansen, is lifted into place at the entrance to the Lincoln Airport in July 2015. The piece, in the shape of a giant paper airplane, was made of formed and fabricated steel by Rivers Metal Products of Lincoln from Hansen's design. The $100,000 sculpture was commissioned by the city of Lincoln and paid for by Duncan Aviation. Another of Hansen's pieces, Discover, is at Union Plaza.
Watchful Citizen
Watchful Citizen was first produced as a small, desk-size casting called “Couch Potato” and later recreated life-size and renamed. It sits in the Haymarket at Seventh and P streets.
Mbera
The sculpture Mbera, at the center of the roundabout at 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard, was a gift from the Marc LeBaron family to the city of Lincoln several years ago.
Gettysburg Lincoln
The Gettysburg Lincoln, by Daniel Chester French, is at the Nebraska State Capitol, west entrance.
Clocktower
Union College's Clocktower is undoubtedly the tallest artwork in Lincoln.
Rebekah at the Well
Artist David Young tests the stream of water flowing from his bronze sculpture "Rebekah at the Well" during a private ceremony unveiling the sculpture at Sunken Gardens in 2005.
Sculpture of child
Sculpture of child is at the Lincoln Children's Museum, 1420 P St.
Ascent Tower
Artist Jun Kaneko's glass tower, Ascent, is illuminated on Dec. 21, 2014, at the Lincoln Community Foundation Tower Square at 13th and P streets.
Tem and Ptah
Jene Highstein's Tem, will again be displayed on Centennial Mall along with its companion piece, Ptah.
Acklie Fountain
"Acklie Fountain" was a gift in honor of Duane and Phyllis Acklie by their children in 2006. It combines corn maiden faces from the original Cornhusker hotel and some flower-like ornaments from the old City Hall.
Iron Horse Legacy
Iron Horse Legacy (pictured in 2002) by Lincoln artist Jay Tschetter is located at Lincoln Station.
Floating Figure
Floating Figure, by Gaston Lachaise, is at Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL campus.
Bench
Deb Bridges created this bench on the northeast corner of 12th and P Streets as part of the Slave Free Nebraska Public Heart Project.
Doorways to Hope, Garden of Faith, Hope and Love
"Garden of Faith, Hope, and Love" by Cathy Harrington is seen at Marcus Lincoln Grand Cinema as part of the Hildegard Center for the Arts' Doorways to Hope public art project in 2014.
Illuminating Lincoln
Artist Gina Egenberger's work, Incandescent Flight, is on display in front of the Lied Center for Performing Arts in November 2014. The public art project celebrated the 25th anniversary of Lighthouse.
Bicycle
Kenny Smetter (left) and Tanner Russell of Chet's Transfer nudge the 2003 Tour de Lincoln piece, "Balancing the Books," into place outside the Gere Branch Library in 2014.
Star Art
Liz Shea-McCoy, project director for Star Art — The Star City Art Project 2006, hangs out with her sculpture “Reach for the Stars.”
Look Ma, No Hands
Look Ma, No Hands, by Kendrik, Helms, Helms & Raddatz, at Normal and A streets.
Noos
Dan Peragine's Noos stands in Beau Richmond Park at 27th and Holdrege streets.
Jay Tschetter mural
A mural by Jay Tschetter flanks the main entrance to the F Street Community Center.
Mural on Kiechel building
An improvised mural by Lincoln artist Spencer Pacheco is making its way around the Kiechel Fine Art Building, 1208 O St. The mural eventually covered two sides of the four-story building.
Solar Semaphore
Solar Semaphore by Jerome Kirk stands at 12th and O streets.
Double Spinner
Lyman Whitaker's Double Spinner creates an optical illusion of perpetual expansion when it is blown by the wind at the Pioneers Park Nature Center.
Candy Box
Hundreds of people file past the "Candy Box," an art piece in the concourse at Pinnacle Bank Arena after the arena's ribbon cutting on Aug. 29, 2013.
Mountain Monarch
Mountain Monarch, by Rich Haines, stands at the Pioneers Park north entrance, off West Van Dorn Street. The sculpture is one of two at Pioneers Park that make the top 10 most valuable list of public art in Lincoln.
27th Street Hearth
27th Street Hearth by Michael Morgan at Elaine Hammer Bridge Plaza.
If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again sculpture
If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again sculpture in Witherbee Park.
Rarin' to Ride
Rarin' to Ride by George W. Lundeen in Woods Park.
Frog Baby
Frog Baby by Edith Barretto Stevens Parsons in Hamann Rose Garden.
Daydreams
Daydreams by Sondra L. Johnson in Cooper Park.
Standing Bear Sculpture
Sculptor Ben Victor (behind) watches as descendants of Chief Standing Bear help to unveil his sculpture on Centennial Mall. The sculpture is valued at $150,000.
Harvest sculpture
Harvest, a sculpture in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena at Canopy and R streets, was dedicated in 2016. The $972,000 piece by Ed Carpenter was paid for using money set aside for artwork during the arena's original planning.
Kneeling figure
The bronze statue, Kneeling Figure, by Bruno Lucchesi, was installed in the upper level of the Sunken Gardens in December 2019. Lucchesi also created Pieta which is part of the Sheldon Museum of Art Sculpture Garden on the UNL campus. Kneeling Figure was donated to the City by Fred Southwick, son of orthopedic surgeon and artist Wayne Southwick, who also created the sculpture Reveille and gifted it to the city. Wayne Southwick studied under Lucchesi and Kneeling Figure was part of the family’s collection until her recent relocation to Lincoln. Many thanks to Fred and the entire Southwick family for their generous donations to Lincoln’s public art collection.
Ako's Enso II
UNL East Campus
Baroque Cherub
Baroque Cherub
"Nautilus" sculpture installation
The sculpture "Nautilus," by Rico Eastman, was donated by Jane Rohman to the city of Lincoln public art collection and was installed in Union Plaza on Thursday.
Arietta II
Locate at the Sheldon Sculpture Garden on UNL City Campus.
Artist: Catherine Ferguson
Tilted Donut #7
The sculpture Tilted Donut #7 by artist Fletcher Benton, which was donated to the City of Lincoln by his estate, is now in place in Trago Park. The sculpture is easily viewed from Antelope Parkway, 22nd Street, and the pedestrian walkways and bike trails nearby. Art Makers Endowment funds helped pay for the transport of the work, enabling Public Art Lincoln and the City of Lincoln to accept this generous gift on behalf of the citizens of Lincoln.
Ascot
By Jeff Fauser, located at UNL East Campus.
Archie
Balanced / Unbalanced Wheels #2
Located in Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL City Campus. Artist: Flectcher Benton
Palo Alto I
Sculptor and artist John Buck unveils his public art installation, "Palo Alto 1", during a dedication ceremony in May 2016 in the Rotary Strolling Garden, 27th Street and Capitol Parkway. The pieces is valued at $72,000.
Dementia
"Dementia," a sculpture by Charles Ginnever, is now on loan to the city and on display on the north end of Holmes Park.
Bop and Crazed
Karen and Robert Duncan stand in front of sculptures titled “Bop” and “Crazed” created by Charles Ginnever.
Sluice Scythe & Wedgie
Jim Huntington's Wedgie greets visitors who drive into Densmore Park. The granite sculpture will be moved to 11th and G streets.
Our Community / Larger than Life
Located in downtown Lincoln. Artist: Larry Roots
Bather
Clinton Elementary School fifth graders learn about the "Bather" by Jacques Lipchitz during a field trip at the Sheldon Museum of Art.
Liberty bell
Located at Antelope Park.
Bicentennial Cascade Fountain
Bicentennial Cascade Fountain in the Antelope Park Triangle at South 27th Street and Normal Boulevard.
Sunken Gardens dome
Visitors often consider the dome of its Rotary Pavilion the "crown jewel" in the Sunken Gardens.
Greenpoint
Richard Serra's corten steel sculpture "Greenpoint," installed on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus in 1991 as an "environmental piece," stands 16 feet tall and weighs 40 tons.
Kaneko head sculptures
Two big sculptures by Nebraska artist Jun Kaneko now adorn the corner of Eighth and R streets in the Haymarket.
Solar Semaphore sculpture, 10.30
The Solar Semaphore sculpture by artist Jerome Kirk was installed on the corner of 12th and O Street in September 1979. The two red circles are designed to spin with the wind in opposite directions to symbolize man's relationship with the sun and wind. The sculpture will be moved in front of the Lincoln Children's Zoo before construction of a new city library begins.
Torn Notebook
"Torn Notebook," by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, at the corner of 12th and Q streets, is one of the public art masterworks in Lincoln.
Reflection
The sculpture "Reflection," by Albert Paley, is located at Ninth Street and Salt Creek Parkway. The sculpture previously was on display in New York as part of the "Paley on Park Avenue" exhibition.
Old Glory
Artist Mark di Suvero used red beams to create Old Glory, located at Cather Garden on UNL campus, to represent the flag when seen against a blue sky with clouds.
Pitch, Roll & Yaw
Pitch, Roll & Yaw, a new sculpture by Lincoln artist Shannon Hansen, is lifted into place at the entrance to the Lincoln Airport in July 2015. The piece, in the shape of a giant paper airplane, was made of formed and fabricated steel by Rivers Metal Products of Lincoln from Hansen's design. The $100,000 sculpture was commissioned by the city of Lincoln and paid for by Duncan Aviation. Another of Hansen's pieces, Discover, is at Union Plaza.
Watchful Citizen
Watchful Citizen was first produced as a small, desk-size casting called “Couch Potato” and later recreated life-size and renamed. It sits in the Haymarket at Seventh and P streets.
Mbera
The sculpture Mbera, at the center of the roundabout at 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard, was a gift from the Marc LeBaron family to the city of Lincoln several years ago.
Gettysburg Lincoln
The Gettysburg Lincoln, by Daniel Chester French, is at the Nebraska State Capitol, west entrance.
Clocktower
Union College's Clocktower is undoubtedly the tallest artwork in Lincoln.
Rebekah at the Well
Artist David Young tests the stream of water flowing from his bronze sculpture "Rebekah at the Well" during a private ceremony unveiling the sculpture at Sunken Gardens in 2005.
Sculpture of child
Sculpture of child is at the Lincoln Children's Museum, 1420 P St.
Ascent Tower
Artist Jun Kaneko's glass tower, Ascent, is illuminated on Dec. 21, 2014, at the Lincoln Community Foundation Tower Square at 13th and P streets.
Tem and Ptah
Jene Highstein's Tem, will again be displayed on Centennial Mall along with its companion piece, Ptah.
Acklie Fountain
"Acklie Fountain" was a gift in honor of Duane and Phyllis Acklie by their children in 2006. It combines corn maiden faces from the original Cornhusker hotel and some flower-like ornaments from the old City Hall.
Iron Horse Legacy
Iron Horse Legacy (pictured in 2002) by Lincoln artist Jay Tschetter is located at Lincoln Station.
Floating Figure
Floating Figure, by Gaston Lachaise, is at Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL campus.
Bench
Deb Bridges created this bench on the northeast corner of 12th and P Streets as part of the Slave Free Nebraska Public Heart Project.
Doorways to Hope, Garden of Faith, Hope and Love
"Garden of Faith, Hope, and Love" by Cathy Harrington is seen at Marcus Lincoln Grand Cinema as part of the Hildegard Center for the Arts' Doorways to Hope public art project in 2014.
Illuminating Lincoln
Artist Gina Egenberger's work, Incandescent Flight, is on display in front of the Lied Center for Performing Arts in November 2014. The public art project celebrated the 25th anniversary of Lighthouse.
Bicycle
Kenny Smetter (left) and Tanner Russell of Chet's Transfer nudge the 2003 Tour de Lincoln piece, "Balancing the Books," into place outside the Gere Branch Library in 2014.
Star Art
Liz Shea-McCoy, project director for Star Art — The Star City Art Project 2006, hangs out with her sculpture “Reach for the Stars.”
Look Ma, No Hands
Look Ma, No Hands, by Kendrik, Helms, Helms & Raddatz, at Normal and A streets.
Noos
Dan Peragine's Noos stands in Beau Richmond Park at 27th and Holdrege streets.
Jay Tschetter mural
A mural by Jay Tschetter flanks the main entrance to the F Street Community Center.
Mural on Kiechel building
An improvised mural by Lincoln artist Spencer Pacheco is making its way around the Kiechel Fine Art Building, 1208 O St. The mural eventually covered two sides of the four-story building.
Solar Semaphore
Solar Semaphore by Jerome Kirk stands at 12th and O streets.
Double Spinner
Lyman Whitaker's Double Spinner creates an optical illusion of perpetual expansion when it is blown by the wind at the Pioneers Park Nature Center.
Candy Box
Hundreds of people file past the "Candy Box," an art piece in the concourse at Pinnacle Bank Arena after the arena's ribbon cutting on Aug. 29, 2013.
Mountain Monarch
Mountain Monarch, by Rich Haines, stands at the Pioneers Park north entrance, off West Van Dorn Street. The sculpture is one of two at Pioneers Park that make the top 10 most valuable list of public art in Lincoln.
27th Street Hearth
27th Street Hearth by Michael Morgan at Elaine Hammer Bridge Plaza.
If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again sculpture
If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again sculpture in Witherbee Park.
Rarin' to Ride
Rarin' to Ride by George W. Lundeen in Woods Park.
Frog Baby
Frog Baby by Edith Barretto Stevens Parsons in Hamann Rose Garden.
Daydreams
Daydreams by Sondra L. Johnson in Cooper Park.
Standing Bear Sculpture
Sculptor Ben Victor (behind) watches as descendants of Chief Standing Bear help to unveil his sculpture on Centennial Mall. The sculpture is valued at $150,000.
Harvest sculpture
Harvest, a sculpture in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena at Canopy and R streets, was dedicated in 2016. The $972,000 piece by Ed Carpenter was paid for using money set aside for artwork during the arena's original planning.
Kneeling figure
The bronze statue, Kneeling Figure, by Bruno Lucchesi, was installed in the upper level of the Sunken Gardens in December 2019. Lucchesi also created Pieta which is part of the Sheldon Museum of Art Sculpture Garden on the UNL campus. Kneeling Figure was donated to the City by Fred Southwick, son of orthopedic surgeon and artist Wayne Southwick, who also created the sculpture Reveille and gifted it to the city. Wayne Southwick studied under Lucchesi and Kneeling Figure was part of the family’s collection until her recent relocation to Lincoln. Many thanks to Fred and the entire Southwick family for their generous donations to Lincoln’s public art collection.
Ako's Enso II
UNL East Campus
Baroque Cherub
Baroque Cherub
"Nautilus" sculpture installation
The sculpture "Nautilus," by Rico Eastman, was donated by Jane Rohman to the city of Lincoln public art collection and was installed in Union Plaza on Thursday.
Arietta II
Locate at the Sheldon Sculpture Garden on UNL City Campus.
Artist: Catherine Ferguson
Tilted Donut #7
The sculpture Tilted Donut #7 by artist Fletcher Benton, which was donated to the City of Lincoln by his estate, is now in place in Trago Park. The sculpture is easily viewed from Antelope Parkway, 22nd Street, and the pedestrian walkways and bike trails nearby. Art Makers Endowment funds helped pay for the transport of the work, enabling Public Art Lincoln and the City of Lincoln to accept this generous gift on behalf of the citizens of Lincoln.
Ascot
By Jeff Fauser, located at UNL East Campus.
Archie
Balanced / Unbalanced Wheels #2
Located in Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL City Campus. Artist: Flectcher Benton
Palo Alto I
Sculptor and artist John Buck unveils his public art installation, "Palo Alto 1", during a dedication ceremony in May 2016 in the Rotary Strolling Garden, 27th Street and Capitol Parkway. The pieces is valued at $72,000.
Dementia
"Dementia," a sculpture by Charles Ginnever, is now on loan to the city and on display on the north end of Holmes Park.
Bop and Crazed
Karen and Robert Duncan stand in front of sculptures titled “Bop” and “Crazed” created by Charles Ginnever.
Sluice Scythe & Wedgie
Jim Huntington's Wedgie greets visitors who drive into Densmore Park. The granite sculpture will be moved to 11th and G streets.
Our Community / Larger than Life
Located in downtown Lincoln. Artist: Larry Roots
Bather
Clinton Elementary School fifth graders learn about the "Bather" by Jacques Lipchitz during a field trip at the Sheldon Museum of Art.
Liberty bell
Located at Antelope Park.
Bicentennial Cascade Fountain
Bicentennial Cascade Fountain in the Antelope Park Triangle at South 27th Street and Normal Boulevard.
Rotary Pavilion
Visitors often consider the dome of its Rotary Pavilion the "crown jewel" in the Sunken Gardens.
Greenpoint
Richard Serra's corten steel sculpture "Greenpoint," installed on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus in 1991 as an "environmental piece," stands 16 feet tall and weighs 40 tons.
Kaneko head sculptures
Two big sculptures by Nebraska artist Jun Kaneko now adorn the corner of Eighth and R streets in the Haymarket.
Solar Semaphore sculpture, 10.30
The Solar Semaphore sculpture by artist, Jerome Kirk, stands over the corner of 12th and O Street on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Lincoln. The sculpture was installed in September of 1979 by artist Jerome Kirk. The two red circles are designed to spin with the wind in opposite directions to symbolize man's relationship with the sun and wind.
The free art festival will offer multiple hands-on experiences for people of all ages. Here's what to know.
The red and black Spider-Man inspired sculpture that sparked controversy in 2019 when it was mistaken for devil horns lost its final battle after a tree fell on top of it during a storm last weekend.
Current and future UNK student athletes will walk past the sculpture on their way from the Health and Sports Center to Cope Stadium.
The weathered white wall along West South Front Street nary earned a second glance. Now it has people stopping just to see it.
Dale Chihuly is known for ambitious architectural installations in cities, museums and gardens around the world.
The artist hopes the mural's graffiti-style painting will protect it from future vandals. "There's an unspoken street code."
Sam Swartz put down his camera and moved into home building in 2016, going from an artist to an artisan in the business world of home design and construction.
The artist, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, started the project during the pandemic and has been crisscrossing the U.S.
