From their hands to our hearts

Finding sculptures in St. Jo is easy. There are 34 of them in less than a square mile, right in the heart of downtown. The hard part is voting for your favorite. Every year, St. Joseph’s Allied Arts Council sponsors the St. Joseph Sculpture Walk, which includes the coveted “People’s Choice Award.” It’s given to the artist whose work stands out most in a roster of nothing but standouts. 

Each year, as many as two dozen local and out-of-state artists loan their masterpieces to the city for 12 months so the public can enjoy them. After casting their ballot, those still obsessed with a particular sculpture can even buy it. These one-of-a-kind labors of love can be a great investment on display in your home or business.

365 days of walkable art

Year-round, the city is home to 13 eye-catching outdoor sculptures permanently on display. Some, like “The Professor,” can be taken quite literally. Others, like “Heritage,” “River Queen,” and “Peaceful Ruler” – a magnificent horse somehow fashioned from wire – are more open to interpretation. 

Whether made of bronze, steel, glass, wood, or even lights, all of the city’s sculptures are worth going out of your way to find. That said, don’t expect to have to take a big detour. Most of the sculptures – both permanent and temporary –  are concentrated in the city’s Arts and Entertainment District. Perhaps the best part about St. Joe art is that it’s almost all within walking distance.