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The Public Art of Houston, Then and Now

Friday, May 5, 2017 at 6:45 a.m.

Photo by Jenn via CC "Synchronicity of Color" by Margo Sawyer is on view at Discovery Green. 1/41

Photo by James via CC Temporary installation at Discovery Green in 2013. 2/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC The illuminated, international sculptures leading up to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. 3/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC "Fifth Ward Jam" by Dan Havel and Dean Ruck. 4/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC One of the umbrellas at The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. 5/41

Photo by Patrick Feller via CC The ceiling mural from the lobby at City Hall. 6/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. 7/41

Photo by Patrick Feller via CC Sculpture outside Be Fit Gym in Houston. 8/41

Photo by Patrick Feller via CC Bronze sculpture by Boaz Vaadia at Main Street Square. 9/41

Photo by Jerald Jackson via CC The 36-foot-tall Virtuoso sculpture by David Adickes. 10/41

Photo by jjsala via CC Great sunset shot. 11/41

Photo by Patrick Feller via CC Sculpture of dancer outside Jones Hall. 12/41

JWSherman "Tolerance," by Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa, an installation of seven sculptures on view at Buffalo Bayou Park. 13/41

JWSherman "Tolerance," by Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa, an installation of seven sculptures on view at Buffalo Bayou Park. 14/41

JWSherman "Tolerance," by Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa, an installation of seven sculptures on view at Buffalo Bayou Park. 15/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC The stage at The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. 16/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC All hail the magnificent orange at The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. 17/41

Photo by Katie Haugland Bowen Light sculpture at M.D. Anderson Library. 18/41

Photo by brando.n via CC The Sam Houston Monument at the northwest corner of Hermann Park. 19/41

Photo by David Van Horn via CC Presidential busts by David Adickes. 20/41

Photo by Poor Ole Rich via CC "Tolerance," by Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa, an installation of seven sculptures on view at Buffalo Bayou Park. 21/41

Photo by brando.n via CC Atropos Key at Hermann Park. 22/41

Photo by brando.n via CC The flowers look great in this shot of The Sam Houston Monument. 23/41

Photo by Let there be light (Andy) via CC McGovern Commons at the Texas Medical Center at Christmas-time. 24/41

Photo by Katie Haugland Bowen The Hindu temple, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Stafford. 25/41

Photo by Katie Haugland Bowen Nice reflection for the Hindu temple, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Stafford. 26/41

Photo by Patrick Feller via CC Stained glass from 1910 Harris County Courthouse. 27/41

Photo by Katie Haugland Bowen The Downtown Aquarium. 28/41

Photo by sandrafdzh via CC Monument Au Fantome, by Jean Dubuffet, on Avenida de las Americas. 29/41

Photo by Ed Schipul via CC "Fifth Ward Jam" by Dan Havel and Dean Ruck. 30/41

Photo by jjsala via CC Fisheye view of sculpture at Historic Market Square Park. 31/41

Photo by Katya Horner "Abrazo Monumental," one of the sculptures from Jorge Marín's "Wings of the City," a temporary installation at Discovery Green. 32/41

Photo by Katya Horner "Split Monumental," of the sculptures from Jorge Marín's "Wings of the City," a temporary installation at Discovery Green. 33/41

Photo by Katya Horner "Archi-valdo," one of the sculptures from Jorge Marín's "Wings of the City," a temporary installation at Discovery Green. 34/41

Photo by Shannon McGee via CC Downtown Houston. 35/41

Photo by Osbornb via CC Downtown Houston. 36/41

Photo by Katya Horner "Field of Light" by Bruce Munro, a temporary installation at Discovery Green, and "Synchronicity of Color" by Margo Sawyer, on view year-round. 37/41

Photo by Keri via CC "Hope of Humanity" by Charles Umlauf, outside the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 38/41

Photo by Lorie Shaull via CC "Monument Au Fantome" by Jean Dubuffet is on view year-round at Discovery Green and is valued at more than $6.7 million. 39/41

Photo by David Houston via CC "The Beatles" by David Adickes. 40/41

Photo by Patrick Feller via CC The blue trees at Memorial at Waugh. 41/41

The Public Art of Houston, Then and Now

Public art is a topic that's sometimes controversial; there's that love it or hate it argument, and it seems we're always relying on the generosity of philanthropists. But there's no denying that art is inspirational, causing many a photographer (both amateur and pro) to try for that perfect shot. Good thing, too, as it is the best way to preserve the memory of temporary installations as well as those pieces looking for their next home. Here's a round-up of some public, civic and corporate art (past and present) in the Houston area. We took a look at photos shared with the Houston Press Flickr Pool (thank you very much) and supplemented the pics with a few of our favorites.