Public Art

Public Art Inventory

The Lincoln Arts Council has initiated development of an inventory of public artworks in Lincoln. The inventory will be updated on an ongoing basis by the Lincoln Arts Council with information provided through the application and acquisition process.

publicart.artscene.org

PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN

The City of Lincoln Public Art Master Plan has been designed in conjunction with the Lincoln Partners for Public Art Development to develop a public art collection of national prominence in Lincoln. This collection will enrich the quality of life for Lincoln's residents, complement the City's exceptional educational and cultural amenities, and support a positive economic environment in the community. This program will serve to unify the community, to encourage creativity, and to reflect the diverse cultural heritage of Lincoln residents. The quality of the program and its projects will attract visitors, enhance their experience, and bring national recognition and prestige to the City of Lincoln.

Public Art Master Plan(PDF, 5MB)

Notable Public Art Pieces

This section is currently under construction. For more information about Public Art Lincoln, visit publicartlincoln.org.

27th St Hearth

Installed in 2012, by artist Michael Morgan and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student Matt Blache, the 27th Street Hearth stands 14 feet tall near the Elaine Hammer Bridge on the Mopac Trail.

Acklie Fountain

Housed in Government Square Park at 10th and "O" streets, the Acklie Fountain was installed and dedicated in 2006. It was a gift from the children of Duane and Phyllis Acklie to honor their parents.

Ascent

Ascent, a 57′ glass spire by artist Jun Kaneko, was installed in the Lincoln Community Foundation Tower Square at 13th and P Street, in late 2014.

Baroque Cherub Fountain

This French Baroque cast-iron fountain has stood in the center of Hazel Abel Park since its dedication on September 26, 1982, though it was made in Paris in 1840.

Bop and Crazed

Bop and Crazed were created in 1980, but were loaned to the City in 2019 with help from Robert and Karen Duncan. The sculptures are identical in form, just oriented two different ways. The two also differ from most of Ginnever's catalog by being painted.

Bountiful Prairie

Dedicated on October 14, 1975, the large sculpture depicting wheat, was donated in honor of the United States bicentennial celebration. Bountiful Prairie celebrates Nebraska and its rich agricultural heritage.

Buffalo

Dedicated May 17, 1930, this life-size bronze American bison sculpture stands at the east entrance of Pioneers Park off Coddington Avenue.

Chief Standing Bear

Chief Standing Bear was a member of the Ponca Tribe, which in 1877 was forcibly removed from their homeland. When arrested for returning to Nebraska, he sued the government and won, and declared a "person under the law", a significant victory for Native American and human rights. This statue dedicated in 2017 is an homage to Standing Bear.

Childrens Discovery Garden Animals

The Children's Discovery Garden is a section within Union Plaza designed to offer play and a variety of native wildlife. It also features a collection of bronze animals scattered around to discover.

Clancy

This bronze Boston Terrier was gifted by the city as a thank you to Angeleen Stransky, and was dedicated along with the new park in 2003.

Columns

These sandstone Columns now stand in Pioneers Park, though they were originally a part of the U.S. Treasury Building. The Columns were brought to Lincoln in 1916 as a gift for William Jennings Bryan.

Day Dream

Daydreams is a statue resembling Dorothy and her Scottish terrier Toto from L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" and was dedicated in Cooper Park on July 12, 2002.

Dementia

Originally dedicated June 23, 2018 at Holmes Lake Park, Dementia challenges the one point perspective many viewers have of art. It was moved in January of 2019 to Woods Park near the corner of 33rd and "O" Streets.

Discover

Discover stands 10 feet tall in the eastern portion of Union Plaza between ‘P’ and ‘Q’ Streets. The sculpture is by Nebraska artist Shannon Hansen, and is constructed of a steel framework with a brushed stainless steel skin. When walking around it, one specific vantage point will reveal the Nebraska State Capitol Building through a rectangular opening in the figure.

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte was a member of the Omaha Tribe and the first Native American in the United States to earn a degree to become a medical doctor. The sculpture was dedicated on Indigenous Peoples Day on October 11, 2021.

Elephant

Elephant was purchased as part of the Hazel Abel Park renovations in 2007, in order to pay homage to the elephant topiary that had be damaged and removed.

Four Seasons

Located at Kontras Park, the Four Seasons Terminals were acquired by the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department in the fall of 2005. These four heads represent each of the four seasons.

Frog Baby

Frog Baby is a sculpture made by Edith Barretto Parsons as part of her series of garden sculptures of young children with small animals. It was purchased and installed in the Hamann Rose Garden in 2007 as a part of the garden's renovation.

Groundwater Colossus

This giant head was created as the personification for the Ogallala Aquifer to live at Union Plaza. The 12 foot tall head is made of around 300 handmade bricks by artist James Tyler.

Harvest

Harvest, a sculpture in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena at Canopy and R streets, was dedicated in 2016.

Humane Society Fountain

This fountain was donated by the National Humane Alliance in 1908 after formation of Lincoln's Humane Society in January, 1907. It was originally located in the middle of an intersection on "M" street between 8th and 9th. It was placed at 7th & Q streets in 2006.

Inspiration

Installed May 28th, 2022 in the northeastern corner of Sunken Gardens on a limestone base, Imagination features a young girl drawing in a sketchbook. This piece was created to honor the late Beatrice "Mike" Seacrest.

Iron Horse Legacy Mural

Adorning the north wall of Lincoln Station, Jay Tschetter's mural depicts a locomotive traveling through the native prairie of Nebraska.

Jan's Emma

In 2013, the Jan Pitsch Green was completed with the addition of a bronze statue of Pitsch's standard poodle, Emma.

Joy

Dedicated June 5th, 2008, the Joy Fountain in the Hamann Rose Gardens is a sculpture by Edith Barretto Parsons. It features two children displaying the pure joy of childhood from playing in the water.

Kneeling Figure

Donated by Dr. Fred Southwick, Kneeling Figure was installed in the upper level of Sunken Gardens in 2019. The piece was sculpted by Bruno Lucchesi, and shows a kneeling woman in peaceful contemplation.

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty is one of about 200 replicas of the Statue of Liberty donated by the Boy Scouts of America in the 1950s. The statue now stands in the Veterans Memorial Garden.

Mbera

Mbera was donated to the city by the Marc LeBaron family in the early 2000s and was placed in Woods Park. The sculpture was relocated in 2012 to the roundabout at 33rd and Sheridan Blvd. to make it more visible to the public eye.

Mountain Monarch

Unveiled October 4th, 2001, this larger than life-sized elk statue greets visitors of Pioneers Park at the north entrance of off W. Van Dorn Street. This sculpture was made possible with a donation from Leonard and Angeleen Stransky.

Nautilus

Nautilus, a large steel abstract sculpture by the late Rico Eastman, was installed in Union Plaza, at the southeast corner of the 21st and P street.

Noos

Noos, the corten-steel sculpture that resides in the Bea Richmond pocket park was installed in August, 1982. According to the artist, it is a study in the use of negative and positive space, form, rhythm, unity and balance inspired by nature and monolithic stone carvings

Palo Alto I

Palo Alto I by John Buck was acquired for the City by Public Art Lincoln in 2017. It is located within the Rotary Strolling Gardens set within the Antelope Park triangle.

Pioneer Woman

Commissioned by the Lincoln Woman's Club in 1935 and dedicated October 13 the same year, Pioneer Woman is a dedication to all women who bravely made the journey westward.

Prairie Flowers

Donated in August 2011 by Dr. Ronald Gooding, Prairie Flowers now stands outside of the Pioneers Park Nature Center.

Project Backboard: Red Sea Basketball Courts

Two South Antelope Park basketball courts were resurfaced and had a mural painted by the nonprofit organization, Project Blackboard. The mural design is based on a painting by African American artist Felrath Hines, entitled “Red Sea” created in 1985.

Rarin' To Ride

Located in the center of Woods Park, Rarin' to Ride was placed in the park in 2007. It showcases the relationship between man and his four-legged friend according to the artist, George Lundeen.

Rebekah At The Well

Located in Sunken Gardens, Rebekah At The Well stands pouring her water. It was originally created by Ellis Luis Burman, but replaced due to deterioration in 2005 with David Young's version of the sculpture.

Reveille

“Reveille” depicts a life-sized angel blowing a trumpet and was cast in Italy. Reveille was unveiled July 6, 2005 at Sunken Gardens as a part of the $1.7 million renovation of the gardens.

Smoke Signal

Dedicated in September of 1935, the Smoke Signal by Ellis Luis Burman is his best known work in Lincoln. It is dedicated to all Native Americans, and was made in hopes of better relations between the tribes and the white men.

Sphere 1 & 2

Sphere 1 & 2 were brought to the Rotary Strolling Garden as part of the renovation to the Hamann Rose Gardens in 2008.

Stairs

“Stairs” by Vicky Loschuk was selected as one of the two winners in a contest for public art to be installed on Centennial Mall in 1987. “Stairs” now resides at Bishop Heights Park as a feature of the Rock Island Trail.

Summer Showers

Installed at Woods Park in 2004, the piece shows a group of young children having fun while spraying each other with water hoses.

Tem & Ptah

Located on Centennial Mall between "R" and "Q" streets, Tem and Ptah are black Pennsylvania granite monoliths made by artist Jene Highstein and installed in Lincoln in 1985.

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.

Turtle Baby

Turtle Baby is a garden sculpture made by Edith Barretto Parsons that depicts a young child holding a turtle in each hand and smiling in pure joy. This sculpture was purchased with funds from the estate of June B. Patterson in 2008 as part of the Hamann Rose Garden renovation.

War and Victory

The War and Victory monument at Antelope Park was created by Ellis Luis Burman in 1936. It features figures representing soldiers from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War 1.

Where the Sky Meets the Earth

Where the Sky Meets the Earth by Michael Weedman was selected as one of the two winners in a contest for public art to be installed on Centennial Mall in 1987. This sculpture has since been moved to Woods Park at a spot near 33rd Street.

Young Lincoln

Standing 7 feet tall, the piece depicts a young Abraham Lincoln holding tools that were used to join rails on the transcontinental railroad. Originally made for the 1939 World's Fair in New York, but Lincoln's own version was created in 2000 in coordination with the Pennies for Lincoln project.

(JPG, 131KB)

(JPG, 139KB)

(JPG, 109KB)

(JPG, 123KB)

(JPG, 128KB)