38 of the Most Fascinating Public Sculptures
Sometime during the past few centuries, one could argue that the knowledge and appreciation of art surpassed that of religion for the educated classes. Sure, people still associate and practice the many forms: Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, to name a few. But for many more, perhaps, it is art that they look upon religiously. And though commissioned public artwork has been part of our culture for centuries, it now seems more omnipresent than ever. The meaning and impact of a commissioned work can change the fabric of a street corner or city—think: Chicago’s famous Bean or New York’s iconic Knotted Gun. From the bustling streets of major U.S. cities to quieter corners of the globe in Howick, South Africa, and Las Colinas, Texas, Architectural Digest surveys 38 of the world’s most fascinating public sculptures. Each one responds to a cultural curiosity—a question that was asked by a group or city officials and answered by the artists.