Public Art Worth Finding
You can’t go far in the Phoenix area without running into an interesting piece of public art, from well-known pieces like the luminous Her Secret Is Patience in Civic Space Park to the countless murals that pop up and evolve throughout town. We’ve rounded up five hidden gems that you may not have noticed before, from whimsical sculptures to inspired public design, keep your eyes peeled for these five pieces next time you’re out and about.
Hall of Mirrors at the Phoenix Theatre
Originally installed in 1996, artist Bob Adams’ whimsical Hall of Mirrors installation features two sets of ten convex mirrors lining the entrance to the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Theatre. The viewing experience varies depending on when you’re looking at it: during the day, the corridor recalls a funhouse’s hall of mirrors full of distorted images, while at night, spotlights illuminate the spheres, making for a surreal and otherworldly walk through the passageway lit by glowing orbs. 100 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ
Social Invertebrates at Phoenix Convention Center
This trio of human-sized, well-dressed desert critters green visitors to the Convention Center, gathered in a picturesque water-harvesting garden. The dapper menagerie of includes a walking stick wearing high heels, a millipede in a top hat and dress shoes, and a scorpion in a top hat, each of which interacting with the sort of miniaturized human figures that are a hallmark of artist Tom Otterness’ designs. 100 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ
Color Box at the Phoenix Art Museum
This massive, 15 foot by 21 foot ceramic mural by artist Jun Kaneko was unveiled near the Phoenix Art Museum, part of a citywide plan to beautify areas around various light rail stops. Crafted from 130 individual handmade tiles, this colorful, dynamic piece is a perfect welcome to visitors approaching the museum. 1765 N Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ
This immaculately constructed pedestrian walkway that traverses State Route 51 was completed in 1994, designed by artist Vicki Scuri and engineer T.Y. Lin. Arcing across 10 lanes of busy freeway traffic, the bright red bridge is a playful addition to an otherwise bland stretch of road. It’s detailed design mirrors the natural mountain formations on the horizon and pays tribute to the history of the area through it’s color referencing the mercury that was mined on this site long ago. SR-51 at 29th St., Phoenix, AZ
Uplift on the 107th Ave. Streetscape
When walking, biking, or driving along the 107th Avenue streetscape in West Phoenix, a set of seven multicolor kinetic sculptures will jump out at you from the greenery. This series, created by artist team Haddad | Drugan, stands in contrast with the landscape, glistening in the sunlight while constantly in motion, agitated by the desert wind. These 20 foot high treelike structures feature of spirals tracing the flight of mirrored bird and airplane shapes, their paths adorned with hundreds of colorful disks. 107th Ave between Camelback & Indian School Roads, Phoenix, AZ