Most of this year's Milwaukee's summer traditions were unfortunately cancelled thanks to COVID-19; but thankfully one of the newest, most eye-catching and – most important of all – distancing-approved seasonal sensations is back: Sculpture Milwaukee.
After an understandably delayed start, almost all of the this year's 19 works (plus four legacy pieces from past collections) are now installed along Wisconsin Avenue as well as the newly added Third Ward. From familiar favorites to brand new works, the lifelike to the surreal, traditional sculptures to new media pieces expanding the definition of public art, this annual gorgeous outdoor gallery is now available for you to peruse safely in the open air while also exploring the city and savoring the final days of summer and beyond (Sculpture Milwaukee is expected to stay up through fall and winter into 2021).
Though you have plenty of time to check out all of the new artwork bedazzling some Brew City's main drags, you may need it to catch all of them. While some pieces are easy to spot (it's pretty hard to miss a car-sized crushed red Solo cup), others are a little tricky to find without knowing exactly what you're looking for and where.
Sculpture Milwaukee has a handy map on its website to guide your aesthetic explorations, but for a little extra help, here's a guide to where exactly you can find each piece of new outdoor decor.
1. "Holiday Home (Milwaukee)"
Artist: Richard Woods
Where: O'Donnell Park
2. "Cleft" from the series "Dendroids"
Artist: Roxy Paine
Where: The eastern side of the park in front of the Northwestern Mutual Tower
3. "Too Much Sea for Amateurs - Marooned"
Artist: Maggie Sasso
Where: Within the park in front of the Northwestern Mutual Tower
4. "Natalie walking"
Artist: Julian Opie
Where: The western side of the park in front of the Northwestern Mutual Tower
5. "Jim's Head with Branches"
Artist: Jim Dine
Where: In front of the small alley just west of 875 E. Wisconsin Ave.
6. "Within the Folds (Dialogue I)"
Artist: Thomas J. Price
Where: On the plaza deck on the west side of 777 E. Wisconsin Ave.
7. "Park Avenue Departure"
Artist: Alex Katz
Where: In a planter in front of the Northern Trust building, 526 E. Wisconsin Ave.
8. "Blob Monster"
Artist: Tony Tasset
Where: On the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Jackson Street, by the Milwaukee Federal Building
9. "Lexicon Medium Bronze (Open)"
Artist: William Kentridge
Where: In a planter in front of the Wisconsin Club, 500 E. Wisconsin Ave.
10. "Tallulah Rapsody"
Artist: Anna Fasshauer
Where: In front of Two-Fifty at 250 E. Wisconsin Ave.
11. "Gild the Lily (Caribbean Hybrid I, II, III)"
Artist: Carlos Rolón
Where: The entrance to Chase Tower at 111 E. Wisconsin Ave.
12. "Apollo/Poll"
Artist: Nari Ward
Where: On the northwest corner of 4th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, in front of the Wisconsin Center
13. "Curvae in Curvae"
Artist: Beverly Pepper
Where: 450 W. Wisconsin Ave., off to the side of the Wisconsin Center
14. "AT THE SAME MOMENT"
Artist: Lawrence Weiner
Where: On the crosswalk above Wisconsin Avenue, connecting the Wisconsin Center and the Hilton Milwaukee City Center
15. "JOKESTER"
Artist: Paula Crown
Where: In the median along Broadway, in front of Wahlburgers in the Third Ward
16. "Forty-two"
Artist: Leslie Hewitt
Where: Not completely installed, but when completed as soon as Friday, it can be found on a video screen playing in the front window of Mod Gen, 211 N. Broadway, in the Third Ward
17. "I'll remember you as you were, not as what you'll become"
Artist: Sky Hopinka
Where: Not completely installed, but when completed (as soon as Friday), it can be found on a video screen playing in the front window of Mod Gen, 211 N. Broadway, in the Third Ward
18. "Mobile Animation Unit"
Artist: Amy Yoes
Where: Not completely installed, but when completed (as soon as Friday), it can be found on a video screen playing in the front window of Mod Gen, 211 N. Broadway, in the Third Ward
19. "Shoreline Repast"
Artist: Paul Druecke
Where: In Catalano Square in the Third Ward
20. "Love" (Sculpture MKE legacy piece)
Artist: Robert Indiana
Where: Behind the Milwaukee Art Museum, on the plaza between the lakefront and the back MAM/War Memorial entrance
21. "Mixed Feelings" (Sculpture MKE legacy piece)
Artist: Tony Cragg
Where: In front of Milwaukee City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.
22. "Pensive" (Scuplture MKE legacy piece)
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
Artist: Radcliffe Bailey
Where: In front of the new BMO Tower, 790 N. Water St.
23. "Untitled" (Sculpture MKE legacy piece)
Artist: Michelle Grabner
Where: In the Third Ward, along the Riverwalk around the intersection of Chicago Street and Water Street
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.
