While New Orleans has always been a city of public art — from sculptures and murals to entertaining graffiti, street performers and strange characters — in the last decade the city has seen a proliferation of installations from big-name artists. Banksy of course made his mark here, the "Before I Die" mural engaged the city and inspired similar projects around the world, and the Prospect New Orleans biennials turned the city into a public art scavenger art. The public art scene is still thriving here, with installations from Poydras Street to Jefferson Parish. We've attempted to map out New Orleans' public art spots for you. Are we missing any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments, or send us an email.
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Mapping New Orleans Public Art
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Travis "Trumpet Black" Hill mural
Muralist Brandan Odums, the mastermind behind 2014's spectacular ExhibitBe project, painted this two-story tribute to the late New Orleans musician Travis "Trumpet Black" Hill. [Photo: Instagram]
"Remain in Light" mural
The best way to see artist Joseph Konert's 380-foot abstract mural is on the Interstate in Mid-City heading west. But no Instragramming while driving! [Photo: Instagram]
Akira Sushi Mural
Denver, Colorado-based duo Hollis+Lana created the mural for the Fat City Mural Project. [Photo: Arts Council of New Orleans]
Laurel Outdoor Mural
Lafayette artist Robert Dafford painted the mural as part of the Arts Council of New Orleans' Fat City Mural Project. [Photo: Arts Council of New Orleans]
David Art Center Mural
Forrest Reiff painted the mural as part of the Arts Council of New Orleans' Fat City Mural Project, a project aimed at brightening the changing Metairie corridor. [Photo: Arts Council of New Orleans]
“Funnel Tunnel” Sculpture
Patrick Renner’s 155-foot-long, colorful wood-and-steel funnel is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Instagram]
“VOLPANG” sculpture
The fabricated bronze sculpture by David Borgerding is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Kendall Island" Sculpture
That's not a real sunbather you're seeing: it's Carole Feuerman's oil painted resin sculpture. Part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
Gasa Gasa Mural
Berlin-based graffiti artist MTO painted the mural on the outside of the hip Freret Street music venue. [Photo: Instagram]
"City Watch" Sculptures
"Standing Vase With Five Flowers" Sculpture
James Surls' bronze and steel sculpture is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
National Art & Hobby mural
Joseph Konert also created this mural for the Magazine Street art supply store. [Photo: Instagram]
"Octet" Sculpture
Lin Emery's kinetic sculpture, located on Poydras Street between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street, is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Stairway to the Stars" Sculpture
Abstract expressionist sculptor Mark di Suvero's piece is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Foci" Sculpture
Chakaia Booker's textured sculpture made of recycled tired stands tall across from the Superdome as part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Sheila" Sculpture
This pink rabbit from the sculpture duo Grendel's Mother (Trisha Kyner and David Friedheim) is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Ourglass" Sculpture
Dean Ruck's sculpture, covered in 400 mirrors from military surplus Jeeps, is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Savoy" Sculpture
Martin Payton's painted steel sculpture is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
“Crossroads” Sculpture
Arkansas artist Greer Farris’ 10-foot-tall sculpture is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Gymnast" Sculpture
Enrique Alferez' bronze sculpture is part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Yaima and the Ball" Sculpture
The second of Carole Feuerman's very realistic looking oil painted resin sculptures. Part of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Nethership" Sculpture
Texas artist Ed Wilson's steel sculpture is part of the the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"David" Sculpture
New York artist Boaz Vaadia's stone sculpture is part of the the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
"Zach's Tower" Sculpture
Texas artist John Henry's painted steel sculpture is part of the the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. [Photo: Helis Foundation]
Banksy's "Umbrella Girl"
British graffiti artist superstar Banksy came to town in 2008 and this is one of his few remaining pieces here. It's covered in plexiglass but, sadly, still pretty defaced. [Photo: Christa Lohman via Flickr]
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Sculpture
Sculptor Frank Hayden's abstract egg sculpture is a tribute to the civil rights hero, with passages from Dr. King's speeches inside the egg form and a bullet hole to commemorate Dr. King's assassination. [Photo via Library Chronicles
Urban Sidewalk/Installation Space (US/IS)
The set of three public-facing installation spaces features a rotating display of New Orleans artist in a variety of mediums. [Photo via US/IS NOLA]
"Rise and Preserve" Mural
Artists Ivan Petrovsky and ReX collaborated on this colorful mural across from Crescent Park. [Photo via Kristen Bach]
"Paving the Way" Mural
Students from YAYA worked with artists Brandon Odums, Rontherin Ratliff, Paul Wright and Ellen McComber on this mural. [Photo via YAYA]
David Harouni Sculptures
New Orleans artist David Harouni’s trio of identical 16-foot-tall figures stands amid the suburban bustle of Metairie. [Photo: David Harouni Gallery on Instagram]
MILAGROS NOPL Mural
The mural on the back of the building captures the movement of the wind and the cool tones of the Mississippi. [Photo: Lauren LaBorde]
"She Dreamed of a Place Called Fat City" Murall
The artist—known for her New Orleans-turned-worldwide "Before I Die" interactive mural—created the mural, featuring a short story by James A. Reeves, for the Art Council of New Orleans' public art initiate in the Metairie corridor. [Image: via CandyChang.com]
"Weft" Sculpture
Rachel David steel sculpture is part of the Helis Foundation's Sculpture New Orleans project. [Image via RedMetal.net]
"Peace Wall" Mural
The prolific muralist behind ExhibitBE channeled Michelangelo for this New Orleans East work. [Image via Brandan Odums on Instagram]
"Travelers"
The four bronze sculptures New York artist Deborah Masters were originally in Audubon Park and were recently moved to Jefferson Parish. [Image via Michael Manjarris/NOLA.com]
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