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New Orleans' Public Art Scene Is Wild and We Have The Map

By Sarah Chase
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By Sarah Chase
2 comments / new

Autumn temps are setting in and what better time to hit the town and explore some public art? The city is bursting with it and we've put together some of the most interesting must-sees of the New Orleans public art scene, all in one handy map below. You'll find one of the few remnants from graffiti superstar, Banksy's, visit in 2008, a "singing" oak tree in City Park, gorgeous fountains, and sculpture galore. This is just a taste of what's out there so please do share your favorites in the comment section.

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Popp Fountain

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This recently restored 60-ft. wide fountain in City Park was built in 1937. The cast bronze dolphin statues by sculptor Enrique Alferez are worth checking out.

Diagonal Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124

Sculpture Garden in City Park

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Technically, not "public art" since it's owned by the NOMA, but over 60 sculptures are displayed in this stunning space, and it's free.

1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 483-9383
(504) 483-9383

The Singing Oak

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Near Big Lake in City Park, Jim Hart adorned this live oak tree with chimes - one 14-feet long - creating harmonized music in the wind.

New Orleans, LA 70124

Tree art

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A dead tree along Bayou St. John is transformed into a work of art by chainsaw artist (toughest title ever!), Marlin Miller.

Orleans Avenue & Jefferson Davis Trail, New Orleans, LA 70119

Serpent Mound

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Who says art has to be serious? This Steve Kline sculpture, installed in 1990, just begs to be crawled upon.

Canal Street & North Jefferson Davis Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70119

Spirit House

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Dedicated in 2002, this sculpture by John Scott and Martin Payton celebrates the unnamed African Americans who contributed to New Orleans' building and culture.

Saint Bernard Avenue & Desaix Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70119

Banksy's Rain Girl

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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.

North Rampart Street & Kerlerec Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

Re-Neavus

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Guerrilla sculpture at its finest. This Viking ship/rising pelican by Herbert Kearny, Jules Cote, and Josh Walsh went up in 2008 to coincide with the Prospect.1 exhibit.

Saint Claude Avenue & Spain Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

Project Be

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While we don't condone busting into under-construction housing developments, Brandan Odums' "Project Be" deserves a shout-out.

Alvar Street & North Dorgenois Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

Mandala

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This ceramic and steel structure by Rashida Ferdinand is meant to represent hope, survival, and renewal in the Lower Ninth Ward.

North Claiborne Avenue & Caffin Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117

Ocean Song

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A Lower 9th Ward native and Xavier Univ. grad and professor, James Scott said this sculpture represents the circle dances performed at Congo Sq., African instruments, and traditional jazz beats.

1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Zach's Tower

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The Sculpture for New Orleans installation along Poydras St. was created to perk up the post-Katrina landscape. This 26-ft. tall steel structure by John Henry might make casino losers a bit more cheery as they exit the premises.

228 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Me, Knife, Diamond and Flower

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This James Surls sculpture was installed in front of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in 2008.

925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

At Rest

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Jason Kimes' steel sculpture is also part of the Sculpture for New Orleans, a program to support public art by using large-scale outdoor sculpture.

Poydras Street & Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Rain Towers

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Helen Escobedo's sculpture is fitting, considering the amount of rain New Orleans gets. Installed in 1986.

219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112

Ignatius J Reilly

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A life-size statue of the "Confederacy of Dunces" character holds fort outside the Chateau Bourbon Hotel.

819 Canal St, New Orleans, LA

Before I Die...

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Chalkboard paint on the side of an abandoned house in the Marigny started the "Before I Die..." project by Candy Chang, where anyone can write in their hopes and dreams. Now up on the side of the Ogden Museum.

925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Out of There

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Jazz-loving artist Clement Meadmore said, "It seems appropriate that it should have found a place in New Orleans" since this sculpture is meant to reflect the curves of the river.

500 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Scraphouse

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Installed in 2008, artist Sally Heller made this from steel drums, wood, wallpaper, and solar lights.

Convention Center Boulevard & John Churchill Chase Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Isamu Noguchi fountain

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The plaza of the old K&B Building not only has the Mississippi Fountain by Noguchi, installed in 1961, but ten other pieces of abstract art.

1055 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Professor Longhair Square

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On the neutral ground outside Tipitina's is David Tureau's homage to the late, great Professor Longhair.

Tchoupitoulas Street & Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115

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Popp Fountain

Diagonal Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124

This recently restored 60-ft. wide fountain in City Park was built in 1937. The cast bronze dolphin statues by sculptor Enrique Alferez are worth checking out.

Diagonal Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124

Sculpture Garden in City Park

1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124

Technically, not "public art" since it's owned by the NOMA, but over 60 sculptures are displayed in this stunning space, and it's free.

1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 483-9383
(504) 483-9383

The Singing Oak

New Orleans, LA 70124

Near Big Lake in City Park, Jim Hart adorned this live oak tree with chimes - one 14-feet long - creating harmonized music in the wind.

New Orleans, LA 70124

Tree art

Orleans Avenue & Jefferson Davis Trail, New Orleans, LA 70119

A dead tree along Bayou St. John is transformed into a work of art by chainsaw artist (toughest title ever!), Marlin Miller.

Orleans Avenue & Jefferson Davis Trail, New Orleans, LA 70119

Serpent Mound

Canal Street & North Jefferson Davis Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70119

Who says art has to be serious? This Steve Kline sculpture, installed in 1990, just begs to be crawled upon.

Canal Street & North Jefferson Davis Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70119

Spirit House

Saint Bernard Avenue & Desaix Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70119

Dedicated in 2002, this sculpture by John Scott and Martin Payton celebrates the unnamed African Americans who contributed to New Orleans' building and culture.

Saint Bernard Avenue & Desaix Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70119

Banksy's Rain Girl

North Rampart Street & Kerlerec Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

North Rampart Street & Kerlerec Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

Re-Neavus

Saint Claude Avenue & Spain Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

Guerrilla sculpture at its finest. This Viking ship/rising pelican by Herbert Kearny, Jules Cote, and Josh Walsh went up in 2008 to coincide with the Prospect.1 exhibit.

Saint Claude Avenue & Spain Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

Project Be

Alvar Street & North Dorgenois Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

While we don't condone busting into under-construction housing developments, Brandan Odums' "Project Be" deserves a shout-out.

Alvar Street & North Dorgenois Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

Mandala

North Claiborne Avenue & Caffin Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117

This ceramic and steel structure by Rashida Ferdinand is meant to represent hope, survival, and renewal in the Lower Ninth Ward.

North Claiborne Avenue & Caffin Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117

Ocean Song

1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

A Lower 9th Ward native and Xavier Univ. grad and professor, James Scott said this sculpture represents the circle dances performed at Congo Sq., African instruments, and traditional jazz beats.

1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Zach's Tower

228 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

The Sculpture for New Orleans installation along Poydras St. was created to perk up the post-Katrina landscape. This 26-ft. tall steel structure by John Henry might make casino losers a bit more cheery as they exit the premises.

228 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Me, Knife, Diamond and Flower

925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

This James Surls sculpture was installed in front of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in 2008.

925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

At Rest

Poydras Street & Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Jason Kimes' steel sculpture is also part of the Sculpture for New Orleans, a program to support public art by using large-scale outdoor sculpture.

Poydras Street & Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Rain Towers

219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112

Helen Escobedo's sculpture is fitting, considering the amount of rain New Orleans gets. Installed in 1986.

219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112

Ignatius J Reilly

819 Canal St, New Orleans, LA

A life-size statue of the "Confederacy of Dunces" character holds fort outside the Chateau Bourbon Hotel.

819 Canal St, New Orleans, LA

Before I Die...

925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Chalkboard paint on the side of an abandoned house in the Marigny started the "Before I Die..." project by Candy Chang, where anyone can write in their hopes and dreams. Now up on the side of the Ogden Museum.

925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Out of There

500 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Jazz-loving artist Clement Meadmore said, "It seems appropriate that it should have found a place in New Orleans" since this sculpture is meant to reflect the curves of the river.

500 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Scraphouse

Convention Center Boulevard & John Churchill Chase Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Installed in 2008, artist Sally Heller made this from steel drums, wood, wallpaper, and solar lights.

Convention Center Boulevard & John Churchill Chase Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Isamu Noguchi fountain

1055 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

The plaza of the old K&B Building not only has the Mississippi Fountain by Noguchi, installed in 1961, but ten other pieces of abstract art.

1055 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Professor Longhair Square

Tchoupitoulas Street & Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115

On the neutral ground outside Tipitina's is David Tureau's homage to the late, great Professor Longhair.

Tchoupitoulas Street & Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115