15 Public Art Spots in Vancouver

Dec 19 2017, 7:45 pm

Vancouver has some very unique and awesome pieces of public art. While there are hundreds scattered around the city—from murals to sculptures—we scouted 15 pieces and places that are not to be missed.

Some of the spots are well loved. Others, like the Main Street Poodle, leave a bad taste in peoples mouths. In the end, art is subjective and not everyone will love a particular piece of work.

15 Public Art Spots in Vancouver

15 Public Art Places in Vancouver

By Vancity Buzz

Vancouver has some very unique and awesome pieces of public art. While there are hundreds scattered around the city—from murals to sculptures—we scouted 15 pieces and places that are not to be missed.

  • English Bay – Inukshuk

    By Vancity Buzz

    Located in English Bay, the Inukshuk is a popular piece of public art right off the Seawall. This popular statue was also the 2010 Winter olympics symbol and originally came from Expo ’86!

  • Mount Pleasant – Dude Chilling Park

    By Vancity Buzz

    The park formerly known as "Guelph Park" has (un)officially been dubbed "Dude Chilling Park" with this artistic rendering. It started as a prank, but is now approved as public art!

  • Burrard Inlet – Digital Orca

    By Vancity Buzz

    Famous Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland created the "Digital Orca" sculpture, located next to the Vancouver Convention Centre. The sculpture is a symbol of technology & nature in the province.

  • Surrey – Surrey Urban Screen

    By Vancity Buzz

    Located at Chuck Bailey Rec Centre (13458 107A Ave), the urban screen is an unusual blend of tech & public art, enabling the Surrey Art Gallery to reach audiences larger than they ever have.

  • Coal Harbor – Komagata Maru

    By Vancity Buzz

    This installation is to commemorate a 1914 incident involving 376 passengers from India escorted aboard the steamship Komagata Maru. Upon landing in Vancouver, 352 were not allowed to stay in Canada. 

  • Richmond – Breaking Ground

    By Vancity Buzz

    At 9833 Keefer Avenue in Richmond you will find a concrete sculpture of a life-size kneeling man digging on top of a mound. This statue represents the human connection to earth.

  • Mount Pleasant – Poodle

    By Vancity Buzz

    This controversial piece of public art is a 7-foot Poodle resting upon a 25-foot pole located on Main street. It cost just under $100,000. 

  • Downtown – Radius Mural

    By Vancity Buzz

    The Radius Mural, located at the Firehall Arts Centre downtown includes cultural links & connectivity of Aboriginal, Chinese and Japanese cultures.

  • Killarney – Bright Futures

    By Vancity Buzz

    Located at Killarney Community Centre, the Bright Futures sculpture is a Salish face surrounded by larger triangles that represent athletes of today.

  • South Surrey – Connections

    By Vancity Buzz

    This new pedestrian bridge connecting two Surrey neighbourhoods floats over the highway and creates a metaphoric "connection" between earth and sky.

  • South Vancouver – Infinite Tires

    By Vancity Buzz

    Douglas Couplands latest work, a 60-foot tall monolithic statue at the corner of SW Marine Drive and Ontario Street is called “Infinite Tires."

  • A-maze-ing Laughter – English Bay

    By Vancity Buzz

    Located in Morton Park in English Bay, these hilarious and fun sculptures portray Yue Minjun’s own image in a state of hysterical laughter. 

  • Flow and Variations of Flow – Cloverdale

    By Vancity Buzz

    Inside the Cloverdale Recreation Centre, this work includes 18 tubes of diffusing light, which slowly rotate according to activity in the foyer area. 

  • Traffic Circles – Vancouver

    By Vancity Buzz

    Large boulders are installed as traffic circles in three intersections where these rocks are both objects and obstructions. Located at Garden Drive and Oxford, Cambridge, and Eton Streets. 

  • Olympic Village – The Birds

    By Vancity Buzz

    Vancouver artist Myfanwy MacLeod put 2 massive sparrows in Olympic Plaza in Southeast False Creek. MacLeod’s pair of giant sparrows are 16 feet tall and weigh about 4,200 pounds each. 

  1. The Birds: 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
  2. Digital Orca: Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver
  3. Surrey Urban Screen: Chuck Bailey Rec Centre 13458 107A Ave, Surrey
  4. Komagata Maru: Located near the steps that lead to the Convention Centre, Vancouver
  5. Breaking Ground: 9833 Keefer Ave, Richmond
  6. Radius Mural: 280 E Cordova St, Vancouver
  7. Bright Futures: 6260 Killarney St, Vancouver
  8. Connections: Hwy 99, North of 148 St, South Surrey
  9. Infinite Tires: 26 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
  10. A-maze-ing Laughter: 1800 Morton Ave, Vancouver
  11. Flow and Variations of Flow: 6188 176th Ave, Cloverdale
  12. Traffic Circles: 3 locations located at Garden Drive and Oxford, Cambridge, and Eton Streets, Vancouver
  13. Poodle: 3333 Main Street, Vancouver
  14. Dude Chilling Park Sign: 2390 Brunswick Street, Vancouver
  15. Inukshuk: 1700 Beach Ave, Vancouver

Feature Image: Digital Orca via shutterstock

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

+ News
ADVERTISEMENT