The city’s first public statue was installed in 1950 by the Boy Scouts of America in a “Strengthening the Arm of Liberty” campaign that placed about 200 Statue of Liberty replicas around the country. Earlier this year, local labor unions were tasked with strengthening a more literal arm.
Articles Tagged: Public Art
Photos and Videos Oct. 1, 2025 8:17 am45d ago
Keep Iowa Beautiful grant, Diamond Vogel paint help bring public art project to life in Schulte Park
People & Places Sep. 8, 2025 5:30 am68d ago
A pair of new murals came to fruition in August through creative means after their Colombian artist was denied entry to the United States.
Photos and Videos Aug. 31, 2025 5:30 am76d ago
Savannah Blake, photojournalist at The Gazette, shares the story behind this reflective photo.
Photos and Videos Aug. 12, 2025 4:26 pm95d ago
All 105 panels in the corridor next to the Graduate Hotel in downtown Iowa City are being cleaned and an acrylic, dichroic finish is being affixed to them
Photos and Videos Jun. 13, 2025 5:34 pm154d ago
The piece, which stands 9 feet tall, is part of ongoing efforts to increase public art opportunities in the downtown area and transform May’s Island
Local Government May. 7, 2025 5:30 am192d ago
The project will honor the Cedar Rapids neighborhood’s unique history and character.
Photos and Videos Jan. 14, 2025 6:03 pm304d ago
The project, funded by Friends of Iowa County Conservation Foundation, is being painted on a wall at the Lake Iowa Nature Center
Photos and Videos Oct. 11, 2024 3:58 pm400d ago
The mural, which features a number of Iowa City landmarks, is being painted by Iowa City artist Alex Barloon on a retaining wall along Brown Street.
Local Government Jul. 8, 2024 7:59 am495d ago
Cities around Iowa turn to UNI’s Public Art Incubator for assistance with their public art collections, offering students hands-on experience as they “contribute to their communities in a real way.” Students restored two Cedar Rapids sculptures through the program this summer.
Photos and Videos Jun. 27, 2024 3:56 pm506d ago
The vinyl wraps, designed by local artists, are bringing public art to highly visible intersections throughout the city.
Crime & Courts Apr. 10, 2024 7:51 am584d ago
Officials at the Des Moines Art Center say the work, completed in 1996, has deteriorated beyond repair and is hazardous to park visitors.
By Clark Kauffman - Iowa Capital Dispatch
Crime & Courts Apr. 8, 2024 5:30 am586d ago
A New York artist is seeking a temporary injunction to block the planned demolition of a 30-year-old outdoor art installation in Des Moines.
People & Places Oct. 21, 2023 5:30 am756d ago
A new sculpture park along one of Mount Vernon’s trails hopes to add more value to the city’s art scene with plans for future growth.
Local Government Oct. 24, 2022 12:20 pm1118d ago
As Cedar Rapids continues to grow its collection of public art, residents and visitors can now pull up their phones and take a virtual tour of a selection of public art pieces located downtown.

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