Best Outdoor Art In Minnesota

Public art beautifies streets and adds focus to the community. It's a great way to bring people together. Minnesota's support for art and aesthetics is evident through these displays, and whether in the heart of the city or out in the quiet of the countryside, there is plenty to be found gracing the landscape. Here are a few of the finest that not only represent the state and the people living here, but just might inspire you to create something of your own.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden 
725 Vineland Place
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(651) 375-7600
www.walkerart.org

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, arguably the most famous of Minnesota's outdoor art displays, featuring the Spoonbridge and Cherry, arguably Minnesota's most famous piece of outdoor art (or indoor for that matter), is currently undergoing renovations. The $33 million update will add a new entry pavilion, as well as add greenery to the expanse in a redesign that seeks to offer a more cohesive, walkable feel to the entire thing. The sculptures are in storage, but various pieces will be on display throughout the process at other locations. The Walker Art Center remains open, so you can still enjoy some of Minnesota's finest modern art and see how things are coming along outside. June of 2017 is the planned reopening date.

Prince Mural
26th St. and Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408

Of course it had to be done. The beloved son of Minnesota deserves a tribute, and it didn't take long after his passing for the large mural to pop on in Uptown. It's a grand purple display that features Prince in all of his glory, with his famous symbol to the right. It's located on the side of a building that currently houses Sencha Tea Bar on Hennepin, and you can't miss it heading toward Calhoun Square on Hennepin. There are plans to make the mural bigger, better, and more purple this summer.

Franconia Sculpture Park
29836 St. Croix Trail
Shafer, MN 55074
(651) 257-6668
www.franconia.org

A collection of over 70 different sculptures can be found in the midst of not much else in Southeast Minnesota. Local, national, and international artists have pieces featured here for the enjoyment of the public. It's a spacious area full of color and inspiration, and, surrounded by the green of nature and the quiet peace of the St. Croix River Valley, it's a more calming experience than you might find at the vibrant Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The collection is always rotating, so even if you have been once, it's always worth going again.

Related: Best Art Exhibits Coming To Minnesota In 2016

Midway Murals
Along Snelling Ave. between University Ave. and Minnehaha Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
www.midwaymurals.com

Along Snelling Avenue in Midway, between University Avenue and Hamline University, the dated buildings were doing little to reflect the changing times. The murals not only add a notable brightness and beauty to the street, but offer a visual representation of the residents and businesses there. A beautiful display of culture and creativity, the murals are a must-see and can be appreciated when traveling by foot, bike, car, or bus.

Bemidji Sculpture Walk
1111 Event Center Drive N.E.
Bemidji, MN 56619
www.bemidjisculpture.org

Downtown Bemidji was made all the more charming when it introduced the Sculpture Walk in 1999. Featuring a changing array of work from local artists, it is a unique addition to a city not usually known for pushing boundaries. Pushing boundaries does sometimes lead to controversy, as was evidenced back in 2010 when a beaver statue named Gaea, celebrating womanhood in a manner upsetting to some local residents, was removed and then restored after a vote. But for the most part it's simply a beautiful, creative display of local talent that adds another reason to stroll along the river and down the pleasant streets of the city.

Related: Best Public Art In Minnesota

Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.