9 huge public sculptures in Charlotte - Charlotte On The Cheap

There is plenty of fun, interesting public art in Charlotte, if you know where to find it. We’re taking a look at some of our favorite larger-than-life sculptures around Charlotte. All but one are outside, and the one that’s inside is in the lobby of an Uptown skyscraper, and you can walk right in and enjoy it.

These aren’t all the large public sculptures in Charlotte — not by a long shot! Learn about more on Arts and Science’s website. You’ll also learn about some more public art that’s on the way.

If you have a favorite piece of public art that we should include, let us know!

Ainsa III

Where: Between UNC Charlotte Center City building and First Ward Park. N. Brevard Street, between 8th and 9th Streets.
Artist: Jaume Plensa
A gift in 2015 from the anonymous group, Queen’s Table, this 12-foot-tall figure is constructed from metal letters from nine international alphabets.

Pillars of Dreams

Where: Valerie C. Woodard Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
Artist: Marc Fornes / TheVeryMany
More info

Cascade

Where: Carillon Tower, 227 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Artist: Jean Tinguely
This is an amazing kinetic sculpture! Everything moves.
More info

Metalmorphosis

Where: 3701 Arco Corporate Drive, Charlotte, NC 28272
Artist: David Cerny
When everything is working properly, the head rotates. Even if it’s not rotating, it’s an impressive (and very large!) work of art.
More info

Nested Hive

Where: Eastway Regional Recreational Center, 3150 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC 28213
Artist: RE:site
This sculpture is on the grounds of the newly opened recreation center. It was designed to be an interactive play sculpture.
More info

Embrace

Where: 6697 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28212
Artists: Leslie Scott and Lee Baumgarten. Created by the MoRA Community as part of a gathering spot.
More info

Firebird

Where: Outside Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Artist: Niki de Saint Phalle
Full name: Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l’arche
Nickname: Disco Chicken
More info

Spiral Odyssey

Where: Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Artist: Richard Hunt
More info

Pepsi Cube

Where: New Bern Station on Light Rail, 129 New Bern Street, Charlotte, NC 28203
Artist: Ivan Depena. Built by ACSM.
Far far away this just looks like a shiny blue cube. When you get closer you’ll see that it’s made of crushed Pepsi cans.