THE  10

MOST  VISITED

PUBLIC  SCULPTURES,  STATUES,  MURALS  &  FOUNTAINS  IN  LOS  ANGELES

Each year PUBLIC ART IN PUBLIC PLACES reports the popularity of individual public artworks across the greater Los Angeles area refleted by number of visits.  

These are the 10+ most visited in 2023.   

 LOS ANGELES

STILL L.A.'S MOST POPULAR, BY FAR --  At the top of the "10 Best" since its 2008 installation, Chris Burden's hugely popular array of vintage lampposts produces an especially mesmerizing effect as one walks among them.  With hundreds of daily visitors*, it is lighted and open 24/7 with security staff on hand due to its round-the-clock popularity.   Featured by Google Arts & Culture. 

 EXTRAS:   the nearby "big rock" Levitated Mass.


Best viewing time:  sunset to duskLocation:  Public Art "Urban Light", Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (in  front of LACMA)
*Daily visitors have increased every year since 2008; 2022's was nearly 200 visitors per day.

THE BIG ROCK - Its slo-mo midnight trek across L.A. from the Riverside quarry made headline news, and now you can dance under all 340 tons of it.


Best viewing time: daytimeLocation:  Public Art "Levitated Mass", LACMA, Resnick North Lawn, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

At 2,754 feet long - that's about a half mile - it's hard to imagine a more impressive community and historic mural project in Los Angeles.  Using the side of this flood control channel, it continues to be a work in progress with more panels added in 2024 that should extend the length to a full mile, in time for the 2028 Olympics.


Best viewing time:  daylight before 1 p.m.

Location:  Public Art "The Great Wall of Los Angeles", 12900 Oxford St., North Hollywood

L.A.'s ICONIC SYMBOL - Simon Rodia's 99-ft. towers are covered with "found objects" and surrounded by his whimsical mosaic and sculptural art, calling it "Nuestro Pueblo"/"Our Village."  

Featured @ Google Arts & Culture.  

EXTRAS:  nearby Mama Watts sculpture and the Watts Towers Arts Center for guided tours.


Best viewing time:  daytime Location:  Watts Towers, 1765 E. 107th St, Watts, Los Angeles

These free-standing public art walls on the beach are continuously painted by the most talented graffiti artists in L.A., showcasing L.A.'s most original amateur art.


Best viewing time: daytimeLocation:  Venice Public Art Walls, Beach  at Ocean Front Walk at Winward Ave., Venice Beach, Los Angeles

This building-mounted sculpture fronts both the building entrance and an upper-level meeting room.  Who resides behind the "Binoculars"?  Google offices, of course.   

Featured @ Google Arts & Culture 

Best viewing time: daytimeLocation:  Public Art "Giant Binoculars", 340 Main Street, Venice, Los Angeles

At five stories high, this mural titled Anthony Quinn / The Pope of Broadway is L.A.'s biggest downtown mega portrait mural, where Anthony Quinn has fun as "Zorba the Greek."  His famous role has prompted spontaneous "Zorba the Greek" dance flash mobs throughout the world. 

Featured @ Google Arts & Culture    

Best viewing time: daytimeLocation:  Public Art "Anthony Quinn", West 3rd St., Los Angeles
See also the Victor Clothing Co. mural The Bride and Groom nearby at the back of the building.

FUNNY or SCARY?  Jonathan Borofsky's 30-foot "Clown" has been freaking out folks along Main Street for three decades, and a 2014 restoration of the mechanical leg movement has added to the bizarre impression. 


Best viewing time: daytimeLocation:  Public Art "Ballerina Clown", 225 Rose Ave., Venice Beach, Los Angeles

At Fifth Street across from L. A. Central Library, this is by far the most enjoyable public art stair-step workout in L.A.   The cascading river rock stream flows down from Robert Graham's Source Figure at Hope Place.


Best viewing time:  daytimeLocation:  Library Steps / Bunker Hill Steps, W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles

At 60-feet high with synchronized lighting and music, Joseph Young's piece has been called many things since 1975 (the "toothache," "three wishbones in search of a turkey," "Joe's L.A. Space Launch").  But after the 2016 renovations it can now produce wonderful lighting and music programs.


Best viewing time: daytime & nighttime during programs.Location:  Public Art "Triforium", Fletcher Bowron Square/Los Angeles Mall, northeast corner of Temple Avenue and Main Street, Civic Center, Los Angeles

AND BEYOND L.A.  just a bit...

THE SECOND MOST VISITED:  The artistic qualities of this Korean bell and pavilion are nothing short of stellar.  The pavilion's brilliant colors and designs, traditional architecture, and mammoth cast bronze bell are delights for the eyes.  

EXTRAS:  sunshine, sea breeze, and first-rate view of Catalina Island on a clear day.


Best viewing time: daytimeLocation:  Korean Friendship Bell Parking Lot, San Pedro

The historic 1930s fountain, crowned with a sculpture of a Tongva-Gabrieleno kneeling in prayer, has colorful evening lighting that should not be missed.  It is easily visible (and mesmerizing) to boulevard traffic. 


Best viewing time:  lighting program begins at duskLocation:  Electric Fountain, Santa Monica & Wilshire Blvds. crossroad, Beverly Hills

This Cecil Balmond piece was Southern California's most impressive public artwork of 2017 - a 20,400 lb. double cylinder inspired by the ancient Cyrus Cylinder declaration of human rights.   It is awe-inspiring.   Learn more here


Best viewing time:  p.m. lighting begins at duskLocation:  Public Art "The Freedom Sculpture", median, Santa Monica Bl. at Century Park East, Century City, Los Angeles

A notorious "stealth" sculpture with a sense of humor, this piece by Ken Marshall evaded removal for years due to its popularity, and became bona fide when Pasadena officially adopted it in 2011.


Best viewing time: daytime & nighttimeLocation:  Public Art "Fork in the Road", S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena

Who can resist Santa Monica's ferocious water-spewing dinosaurs along Third Street Promenade?   'Nuf said. 


Best viewing time:  daytimeLocation:  Public Art "The Dinosaurs of Santa Monica", Third St. between Broadway Ave. & Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica