List of public art in Detroit facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Detroit is a city full of amazing art, and much of it isn't hidden away in museums! This list is all about the cool artworks you can find outdoors in public places around Detroit. Think of big sculptures, colorful murals, and unique fountains that you can see just by walking around. These artworks make the city more beautiful and tell stories about its history and culture.

Awesome Artworks in Detroit

Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac

The statue of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.

You can find this statue in Philip A. Hart Plaza. It honors Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who founded Detroit. The sculpture was created by William Kieffer and Ann Feely and was finished in 2001. It's made of bronze, a strong metal often used for statues.

Balancing Act

This huge mural is located at One Campus Martius. It was painted in 2016 by artists known as HOW and NOSM. Murals like this one add a lot of color and life to city buildings. This one is really big, measuring 184 feet tall and 60 feet wide!

Bagley Memorial Fountain

The beautiful Bagley Memorial Fountain.

The Bagley Memorial Fountain is a historic fountain in Cadillac Square. It was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and first opened on May 30, 1887. It's made from white Worcester granite and is a Michigan State Historic Site, meaning it's an important part of the state's history.

Detroit Chimera Graffiti Mural

This massive mural is located at the Russell Industrial Center, specifically on Building Number 2. It was painted by Kobie Solomon between 2010 and 2012. It covers a huge area of 8,750 square feet, making it one of the largest murals around!

Johann Friedrich Schiller

The statue of Johann Friedrich Schiller on Belle Isle.

You can see this statue of the famous German writer Friedrich Schiller in Belle Isle Park. It was designed by Herman Matzen in 1906 and officially dedicated on May 11, 1908. The statue is made of stainless steel.

Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad

This important sculpture is found in Philip A. Hart Plaza. It was created by Edward Dwight and dedicated on October 20, 2001. The memorial honors the brave people who escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped them find freedom.

General Alexander Macomb

The statue of General Alexander Macomb.

This bronze statue of General Alexander Macomb stands on Washington Boulevard at Michigan Avenue. It was created by Adolph Alexander Weinman and dedicated on September 11, 1908. General Macomb was an important military leader.

Hamtramck Disneyland

A view of Hamtramck Disneyland.

This unique art installation is located in Hamtramck. It was created by Dmytro Szylak, who started working on it in 1992 and finished in 1999. It's a collection of colorful and quirky sculptures and objects, making it feel like a magical, homemade theme park.

Hazen Stuart Pingree

The statue of Hazen Stuart Pingree.

This bronze statue of Hazen Stuart Pingree is located southwest of Woodward Avenue and East Adams Avenue. It was made by Rudolf Schwarz and dedicated on May 30, 1904. Pingree was a mayor of Detroit and a governor of Michigan, known for helping ordinary people.

Heidelberg Project

A colorful house from the Heidelberg Project.

The Heidelberg Project is a famous outdoor art environment in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood of east Detroit. It was started by Tyree Guyton in 1986 and is still ongoing. The project uses discarded items to create art, transforming houses and streets into a powerful statement about urban decay and renewal.

Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain

The Dodge Fountain lit up at night.

This impressive fountain is in Philip A. Hart Plaza. It was designed by the famous artist Isamu Noguchi and dedicated on October 14, 1981. The fountain is made of stainless steel and black granite and is 30 feet tall, creating a beautiful water display.

James Scott Memorial Fountain

The grand James Scott Memorial Fountain.

The James Scott Memorial Fountain is a grand fountain located in Belle Isle Park. It was designed by Cass Gilbert and Herbert Adams and dedicated on May 31, 1925. Made of marble, cement, and bronze, it's a very large and detailed fountain.

Monument to Joe Louis

The "Fist of a Champion" statue.

This powerful sculpture, also known as "The Fist," is located in Philip A. Hart Plaza. It honors the legendary boxer Joe Louis. The sculpture was created by Robert Graham and dedicated on October 16, 1986. It's a bronze fist, symbolizing strength and determination.

Passo di danza (Step of the Dance)

The "Passo di danza" sculpture at One Woodward Avenue.

This sculpture, meaning "Step of the Dance," is found at the Jefferson Avenue entrance of One Woodward Avenue. It was created by Giacomo Manzù in 1963 and is made of bronze. The sculpture is 11 feet tall and adds an artistic touch to the building's entrance.

Russell Alger Memorial Fountain

The Russell Alger Memorial Fountain.

The Russell Alger Memorial Fountain is located in Grand Circus Park. It was designed by Daniel Chester French and dedicated on July 27, 1921. The fountain is made of bronze and honors Russell Alger, a former governor of Michigan and U.S. Senator.

Sentry

This sculpture is located at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. It was created by Richard Bennett between 1996 and 1997. The artwork is made of aluminum and gold, adding a striking presence to the museum's grounds.

The Spirit of Detroit

The iconic "Spirit of Detroit" statue.

Perhaps one of Detroit's most famous artworks, The Spirit of Detroit is a large bronze sculpture located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. It was created by Marshall Fredericks in 1958. The statue shows a seated figure holding a family in one hand and a symbol of God in the other, representing the spirit of the city.

Stevens T. Mason

The statue of Stevens T. Mason.

This bronze statue of Stevens T. Mason is in Capitol Park. It was created by Adolph Alexander Weinman and dedicated on May 30, 1908. Stevens T. Mason was Michigan's first governor, often called the "Boy Governor" because he was so young when he took office.

The Thinker

Rodin's "The Thinker" at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

A famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin, The Thinker can be found on the southeast lawn of the Detroit Institute of Arts. This bronze sculpture was made in 1904 and shows a man deep in thought. It weighs about 2000 pounds!

Transcending

This steel sculpture is located in Philip A. Hart Plaza. It was created by David Barr and Sergio de Guisti and dedicated on August 30, 2003. The sculpture is 63 feet tall and has a modern, soaring design.

United We Stand

This sculpture is at the Farnsworth entrance of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. It was created by Charles McGee in 2016.

Unity

This mural is located at 28 West Grand River Avenue. It was painted by Charles McGee in 2017. The mural is very large, measuring 118 feet tall and 50 feet wide.

Untitled Mural (One Campus Martius)

This mural is on the side of One Campus Martius. It was painted by Shepard Fairey in 2015. Shepard Fairey is a well-known street artist.

Untitled Mural (Madison Building)

This large mural is on the Madison Building. It was created by HENSE in 2014. It covers an enormous area of 10,000 square feet, making it a huge splash of color in the city.

William Cotter Maybury

The statue of William C. Maybury.

This bronze sculpture of William Cotter Maybury is located east of Woodward Avenue and East Adams Avenue. It was created by Adolph Alexander Weinman and dedicated on November 24, 1912. Maybury was a former mayor of Detroit.

Images for kids

The statue of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.
The beautiful Bagley Memorial Fountain.
The statue of Johann Friedrich Schiller on Belle Isle.
The statue of General Alexander Macomb.
A view of Hamtramck Disneyland.
The statue of Hazen Stuart Pingree.
A colorful house from the Heidelberg Project.
The Dodge Fountain lit up at night.
The grand James Scott Memorial Fountain.
The "Fist of a Champion" statue.
The "Passo di danza" sculpture at One Woodward Avenue.
The Russell Alger Memorial Fountain.
The iconic "Spirit of Detroit" statue.
The statue of Stevens T. Mason.
Rodin's "The Thinker" at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
The statue of William C. Maybury.

Black History Month on Kiddle

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William L. Dawson

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List of public art in Detroit Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.