There are many interesting sculptures in New York City that can be found throughout the whole city.
From historic works to modern ones, there are many kinds of sculptures to discover. Some of these sculptures are statues of historical figures, others symbolize certain themes, and other sculptures commemorate historical events. In addition to that, the sculptures in the city are made from all kinds of materials.
If you are wondering where you can find the best sculptures in NYC, I got you covered! I made this guide, such that you can easily find the best and most iconic ones you have to see.
Sculptures in New York City
Charging Bull
Charging Bull is one of the most iconic sculptures in NYC and you can find this one in the Financial District.
This is a large bronze sculpture of a bull that you can find on Broadway and very close to Bowling Green.
The statue is a symbol of financial prosperity and it is also a symbol of Wall Street.
Seeing this sculpture is also one of the best activities that you can do when you are in the Financial District.
The sculpture has a height of 11 feet and a length of 16 feet, and the sculpture was made in 1989 by Arturo Di Modica, an Italian artist.
Another interesting fact about the sculpture is that it was first placed on Wall Street without permission.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is another iconic statue that you can find in the city. It is probably the most famous statue in the United States.
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal sculpture that can be found on Liberty Island, which is a small island in New York Harbor.
It is made from copper and was made in the year 1886 by Gustave Eiffel and Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Furthermore, the statue was a gift from the people of France.
The statue depicts “Libertas”, which is the Goddess of Liberty of the Romans.
What’s great is that it is possible for visitors to go inside the statue. There is an observation platform in the crown of the statue from where one can enjoy a view of the city.
Prometheus
Prometheus is a sculpture that can be found at the Rockefeller Center. It is a sculpture that was made by the American sculptor Paul Manship in
The sculpture, which was made in 1934, is a cast bronze sculpture that has a height of 18 feet.
The Prometheus sculpture depicts “Prometheus”, which is a Titan of Greek mythology and represents the quest for knowledge.
Furthermore, a fountain provides a backdrop for the sculpture.
When you are at Rockefeller Plaza, you should definitely check out this sculpture. It is also a very popular sight for photography in the city.
LAND Sculpture
When you are in Brooklyn Bridge Park, you can see the “LAND” sculpture.
This is a sculpture that has the official name “In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra”, and the sculpture was made by Nicholas Galanin.
The sculpture was made with the same material that was used to construct the border wall between the United States and Mexico. Furthermore, the height of 30 feet of the sculpture represents the border wall.
You can see the word “LAND” spelled by the metal of the sculpture, and this sculpture looks a lot like the “LOVE” sculpture that you can see in many places in the country and that was designed by Robert Indiana.
Fearless Girl
One of the most iconic sculptures in New York City is Fearless Girl.
This is a bronze sculpture that you can find on Broad Street and it is located opposite the building of the New York Stock Exchange, which is located in Manhattan’s Financial District.
Fearless Girl is a sculpture that promotes gender diversity and women in top management teams of firms, and the sculpture was made by the artist Kristen Visbal. It has a height of 50 inches and has a weight of 250 pounds.
The sculpture was first placed in front of the Charging Bull statue, but after complaints from the sculptor of that statue, Fearless Girl was moved to its current location.
Statue of George Washington
Manhattan’s Financial District is home to another one of the city’s best sculptures. You can find this next sculpture in front of the Federal Hall National Memorial.
You can find a statue of George Washington, the first President of the United States who was born in 1732, here, and the statue was built in the year 1883.
The statue commemorates the inauguration of George Washington which took place at Federal Hall, which used to be the capitol building of the country in the year of the inauguration in 1789.
The sculpture is made from bronze and was designed by John Quincy Adams Ward, a famous American sculptor.
Address: 26 Wall St, New York, NY 10005
Big Button
You can find the Big Button sculpture in the Garment District and it celebrates the history of the Garment District.
In the past, there was a different sculpture instead of this Big Button sculpture. This was a black button sculpture that has now been replaced with a yellow button and a steel thread.
The new sculpture was unveiled in 2022, and the previous button was at the site since the year 1996.
The Big Button sculpture is a unique sculpture with a bright yellow color that stands out against the other buildings that surround it. When you are in Manhattan’s Garment District, you should definitely check out this beautiful piece of public art.
The Thinker
The Thinker is a sculpture in New York City that you can find on the lawn outside of Philosophy Hall of Columbia University.
It is a six-foot-tall sculpture that is a bronze cast of the original “The Thinker” sculpture by the famous sculptor Rodin which can be found at the Musée Rodin in Paris, France.
Many different casts were made of the sculpture and these can be found throughout the world, and some were made by Auguste Rodin. The cast that you can find in front of Philosophy Hall was commissioned by the president of Musée Rodin.
The sculpture depicts a male figure being engaged in deep thought.
American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial
The American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial is a memorial that you can find at Battery Park.
The memorial dates back to the end of the 20th century and it was made by Marisol Escobar.
You can find the sculpture on a breakwater in the Hudson River and it is based on a historical event during which a U-boat of the Nazis attacked a merchant marine vessel.
It depicts a scene of 4 merchant seaman and their sinking ship after the attack took place in the Second World War. One of the people depicted is in the water and with high tide he is covered by the water.
When you are in Battery Park, this is a sculpture that is worth checking out!
Bailey Fountain
The Bailey Fountain is a sculpture in New York City that can be found in Grand Army Plaza, located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
The sculpture was created in 1932 and was funded by Frank Bailey.
The bronze outdoor sculpture consists of 6 figures in total. Two of these figures are a man and a woman with their backs against each other. The figures refer to Greek mythological figures.
In the past, many elements of the fountain were damaged or removed, but the fountain was restored.
Atlas
Atlas is another statue that can be found at the Rockefeller Center, like the statue of Prometheus.
This statue was created by Lee Lawrie, a famous American sculptor, with the help of Rene Paul Chambellan, and was made in 1937. It is made of bronze and has a weight of 14,000 pounds and a length of 15 feet. In addition to that, the sculpture is in the Art Deco style
You can find Atlas in the courtyard of the International Building and across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The statue depicts the mythical figure Atlas who was punished by the gods to forever hold the heavens on his shoulders.
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial
Swing Low: Harriet Tubman is a bronze sculpture that can be found at the intersection of St. Nicholas Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.
The bronze sculpture depicts Harriet Tubman who was a famous American abolitionist and leader of the Underground Railroad.
It is a memorial to Harriet Tubman that was created by the sculptor Alison Saar. The sculpture is 13 feet tall and is made from Chinese granite.
Untermyer Fountain
The Untermyer Fountain is a memorial fountain that can be found in Central Park’s Conservatory Garden.
It depicts three young women who all hold hands in a circle.
The sculpture is a memorial to Samuel Untermyer, a lawyer and civic leader.
The fountain features a bronze cast of the famous sculpture “Three Dancing Maidens” by Walter Schott. The sculpture was made at the start of the 20th century in Germany and was purchased by the Untermeyer family.
The fountain was donated by the family after the death of Samuel Untermeyer.
Columbus Monument
The Columbus Monument is a large monument that you can find in the middle of Columbus Circle in Manhattan, which is located near Central Park.
This is a monument that honors the famous explorer Christopher Columbus, and it consists of a 27.5-foot column with on top of it a statue of Christopher Columbus with a height of 14 feet.
Also, you can see decorations on the column that depict the three ships of Columbus.
The monument dates back to the year 1892 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The monument is also the reason why Columbus Circle is called Columbus Circle.
Bean in NYC
The Bean, also called Cloud Gate, is a very famous sculpture that is located in Chicago. This is a sculpture made from polished stainless steel plates that are welded together such that it has no visible seams.
You can now also find a version of the Bean in NYC which is one of the best sculptures in NYC to check out. It is located at 56 Leonard Street and seems to be wedged between the building.
The sculpture, made by Anish Kapoor, is very modern and unique to see, and it looks amazing together with the building that surrounds it.
When you are in the Tribeca neighborhood, this is a sculpture you should definitely see.
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If you want to take a great picture of one of the sculptures in NYC without many people on it, you might want to consider showing up early. These sculptures are very popular and lots of people stand in front of the sculptures, which you can avoid when you go here early in the day!
Sculptures in NYC Map
Thanks for reading my guide to the best sculptures in New York City! I hope you found some sculptures you want to check out.