Discover the 20 Best U.S. Cities for Public Art

Have you ever wanted to take a trip around the USA and experience some of the best public art the nation has to offer? The Travel Pug on MSN recently released a list of the top 20 cities for public art installations in the US. Check out the list below and see some of the projects CODAworx members have completed in these cities: 

No. 1: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Spectral Grove by Michael Szivos of SOFTLAB is a permanent outdoor public installation of cascading, latticed ribbons of colored aluminum and steel at the entrance of Pivot Park in West Philadelphia.

Fun fact: Philly is home to more than 4000 murals, thanks in large part to the Mural Arts Philadelphia organization. 

No. 2: Chicago, Illinois 

Arboreta by Luftwerk, Chicago, uploaded by Vector Custom Fabricating. Composed of more than 1,000 individual programable LED lighting nodes, Arboreta beckons those navigating the city's streetscape to the respite of a beautiful and relaxing green space.

Chicago is a cultural and economic center, and there’s so much public art to enjoy around the city. Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate is also one of the most famous public art projects in the world.

No. 3: New York City, New York  

The I Was Here installation, displayed on One World Trade Center, created an impactful monument to the unacknowledged enslaved who built many of the significant buildings of Lower Manhattan, including those wall of Wall Street.

The city with the biggest population in the United States of America also boasts one of the most impressive public art scenes. Iván Argote’s Dinosaur is a recent, whimsical addition.  

No. 4: Seattle, Washington

Murmuration by Susan Zoccola was created for Pacific Place Mall in Seattle. It is made of acrylic, aluminum leaf, and stainless steel.

As the setting of many important music and art history moments, Seattle has become a public art destination. Highlights include Olympic Sculpture Park and Fremont Troll.

No. 5: Miami, Florida 

Miami Design District Museum Garage, uploaded by A. Zahner Company. This project brought together five innovative architects and designers to showcase their work featured on a seven-story mixed-used structure located in the Miami Design District.

Miami is a major tourist destination which has a lot to offer public art fans. The Art Basel festival attracts big names in the industry, and Wynwood Art District brings visitors and shoppers together. 

No. 6: San Francisco, California

Hypecourt by Nina Fabunmi at India Basin Shoreline Park, commissioned by Building 180. This mural is the first phase in transforming San Francisco’s newest waterfront park. The restoration of the area emphasizes public access, social equity, resiliency, and restoration. 

The West Coast city is filled with sculptures and murals, and a 2%-for-art government program means lots of money is dedicated to public art projects. Tech giants in the area also spend lots of cash to create more interesting work environments for their employees. 

No. 7: Denver, Colorado 

Created by Brian Brush, this public art project is called Resonance and is installed on the Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado. A microphone picks up sound, allowing people to alter the LED light colors, sizes, and motions. 

Denver is where some of the most interesting and large-scale public art in the United States has been installed. In 2022, CODAworx hosted CODAsummit: Art, Technology + Place in Denver at the McNichols Civic Center Building. 

No. 8: Washington DC

Honoring the 100th anniversary of woman's suffrage in the United States of America, Nine Prominent Women in Washington, DC History was the idea of Charles Bergen, realized with bronze, water jet, and paint. 

The USA’s capital city is very supportive of the arts, and is home to many of the best museums in the world. Did you know the 2025 CODAsummit will be hosted there? 

No. 9: Nashville, Tennessee

Loqui, by Blessing Hancock, is a major public art commission by Metro Arts Nashville. This three-story, 32 x 32 foot illuminated stainless steel sculpture features words and phrases from over 400 Nashvillians, symbolizing the city's storytelling culture.

In Nashville, a vibrant and diverse music heritage is complimented by artworks which not only beautify public spaces, but also engage the community and celebrate talent, making the city a lively canvas for creativity and a popular tourist destination. 

No. 10: Houston, Texas 

“Haha Real” is an original media and sound installation by artist Rachel Rossin commissioned by Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Weingarten Art Group for Buffalo Bayou Park's Cistern, a former underground reservoir in Houston, Texas and now public space and arts venue.

Houston has a thriving public arts scene, and one of the most beloved airports in the world. You can find out more about amazing urban revitalization projects like Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Discovery Green in the CODAworx Project Library. 

No. 11: Portland, Oregon

Artists Anna Valentina Murch, Douglas Hollis, and Morgan Barnard created a lighting display on the Tilikum Crossing Bridge that changes with the Willamette River's conditions. 

About a decade before the turn of the millennium, the arts scene in Portland grew even larger than it was thanks to growing interest in the city from a new generation. Famous art to experience in Portland in-person includes Portlandia by Raymond Kaskey and Ed Carpenter’s Barbara Walker Crossing for the Wildwood Trail.

No. 12: Detroit, Michigan

For Detroit by Red Paper Heart was an interactive museum highlighting Michigan Central Station's history and involving the community in its future. Part of the Ford Open House, it marked the first public viewing of the building's interior in 30 years.

Detroit has been revitalized by public art. Two famous locations are where Robert Graham’s The Monument to Joe Louis / The Fist can be found and the Eastern Market area, known for the numerous murals which can be found there. 

No. 13: Los Angeles, California

Dream Catcher, Janet Echelman’s monumental sculpture for Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, transforms the open space between two buildings into a dynamic, translucent art installations.

Is it any surprise one of the most famous cities in the world is where incredible public art can be found? Expect even more to be installed as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

No. 14: Minneapolis, Minnesota

In the lobby of the Minneapolis Mill District by Hilton, hotel visitors can experience Canopy by Trellage-Ferrill Studios.

If you love different visual art mediums, this Midwest metropolis should be on your itinerary. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is also where the Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain sculpture, from the minds of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, can be found.

No. 15: St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis Lambert International Airport celebrated its 100 years in existence and its namesake, Major Albert Bond Lambert, with Dream Beyond the Clouds by Martin Donlin.

The Gateway Arch is well-known outside the city of St. Louis. One commendable focus of museums and art institute leaders in St. Louis is a dedication to free entry or very low admission costs, because of a tradition and belief in the power and importance of widely accessible art and history experiences. 

No. 16: Boston, Massachusetts

Serpentine is a fabric sculpture from Studio HHH.

In addition to the history of elite educational institutions and talented sports teams in Boston, it is a place where public art fans flock to. Notable works include Nancy Schön's bronzeTortoise and the Hare sculpture, which greets Boston Marathon participants near the finish line.

No. 17: New Orleans, Louisiana

The Hangout is an experiential and interactive art project created by The Urban Conga. It was a notable selection in the Built Environment Award category at the Core77 Design Awards 2017. 

One of the oldest settlements in the United States, New Orleans is well-known for jazz and food, but were you aware it is also a top public art destination? 

No. 18: Cincinnati, Ohio 

Together, by OGE Design Group, installed at the 2022 BLINK festival in Cincinnati. Artworks created by community participants of various ages were brought to life through animation and projected onto colossal hands.

Queen City hosted CODAsummit this October, and CODAworx staff were very impressed. BLINK Cincinnati is a projection art spectacle, bringing dollars, jobs, and moments of joy to residents and travelers in Ohio and Kentucky. 

No. 19: Baltimore, Maryland 

Becky Borlan and Graham Coreil-Allen's Choose your own Adventure was a big success at the 2018 Artscape Festival. Photo credit: Baltimore Aerials. 

Artscape bills itself as “the nation’s largest free arts festival” and claims to have brought more than 350,000 people to the area in past installments. If you enjoy murals, be sure to visit the Station North and Hampden neighborhoods.

No. 20: Santa Fe, New Mexico 

TaranTula by Christina Sporrong, now permanently installed at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. 

Santa Fe is where innovators Meow Wolf began their incredible story, and it has been on many people’s radar as a top art destination. The beautiful landscape and rich history of the area is matched by its public arts scene.