Great art isn’t hard to find in San Antonio; in fact, there’s probably some great public pieces in your own neighborhood. If stuffy museums aren’t your thing but you’re looking to see something cool, check out these public art pieces that are definitely worth a visit.

Open Hand, Open Mind, Open Heart 1101 Iowa Street Artist: Douglas Kornfelt, 2015 Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of nonviolence, this spectacular, 32-foot tall sculpture in Sullivan Park faces San Antonio’s downtown skyline. Facebook/Public Art San Antonio
The Beacon 1700 Blanco Road Artist: Angel Rodriguez-Diaz, 2008 This 28 ft. tall aluminum sculpture lights up at night similar to a luminaria, serving as a beacon at the intersection of Blanco Road and Fulton Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Facebook/Public Art San Antonio
Trains Hays Street Bridge Artist: Riley Robinson, 2010 The Hays Street Bridge is famous for its great views of the city, but details like the silhouettes of trains along the railings are often overlooked. Paying homage to the trains that used to run under the bridge, Trains is a unique piece of art in a cool place. Wordpress/urbanspotlight
‘Beauty … it rubs against one’s tongue / it hangs there hurting one / insisting on its own existence / finally it gets so one cannot stand the pain / then one must have beauty extracted.’ 111 Camp Street Artist: Daniel Joseph Martinez, 2008 On the back of the SPACE gallery is a massive mural-sized text painting by Daniel Joseph Martinez, a meditation on beauty. The piece is viewable at all hours of day. Instagram/lindapacefoundation
La Veladora of Our Lady of Guadalupe 1315 Guadalupe St. Artist: Jesse Trevino, 2006 This spectacular mural features a 3D votive candle (veladora) with an eternal flame facing Guadalupe Street. Intended to serve as a beacon for the neighborhood, this mixed media mural is truly magnificent. Yelp/Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
Millrace Bridge Millrace Road–Brackenridge Park Artist: Diana Kersey, 2011 Bridges seem to be the perfect place for art in San Antonio and the Millrace Bridge is not an exception. Twenty-four ceramic panels are integrated into the sides of the bridge featuring historical images specific to the park itself. Facebook/Kersey Ceramics
Puente de Rippling Shadows 528-552 Brooklyn Ave Artist: Rolando Briseño, 2012 This steel sculpture adorns the Brooklyn Avenue Bridge downtown and is highlighted with vibrant aqua metal sheets to evoke the feeling of water rippling. Flickr/kenerfurth
Spineway 1401 Cincinnati Avenue Artist: Marc Fornes, 2015 Woodlawn Lake Park features one of the most interesting pieces of public art in the form of a huge blue-green aluminum structure at the corner of Cincinnatti Avenue and Josephine Tobin Drive. Reflecting the movement of people, this piece serves as a gateway between communities. Twitter/texasbyair
29° 25′ 57″ N and 98° 29′ 13″ W 544 McCullough Artist: Stuart Allen, 2009 These incredible steel hangings catch the eyes of all who pass by this piece along the Riverwalk. Colored steel wire shifts and morphs with color as visitors walk by. Facebook/SARiverFoundation
Adam At the corner of W. Commerce and N. Main Artist: Arturo Herrera, 2013 Directly adjacent to Main Plaza, Adam is a 3,500-square foot public artwork sponsored by the Linda Pace Foundation. The red color is supposed to inspire dynamism and human movement, and the piece will be on display until the end of the year. Instagram/keith_diarmit
The Torch of Friendship 333 Losoya Street Artist: Sebastián, 2002 Certainly the most iconic piece of art San Antonio has to offer, La Antorcha de la Amistad (The Torch of Friendship) was commissioned as a gift, a token of goodwill between the Mexican government and the City of San Antonio. Instagram/jillrapley
Unity Plaza 315 South Santa Rosa Avenue Artist: Jefre Manuel, 2012 Located at the city’s new Public Works headquarters, this massively interesting piece of art honors the service men and women who protect city. An 18,000-sqft. mosaic map of San Antonio is illuminated at night and features two 16 ft steel silhouettes of an officer and a fireman. Instagram/keith_diarmit
Whispers West River Bank, North of Mission Road Artist: Arne Quinze, 2016 Whispers was imagined as a portal between Mission San Juan and the River, placed along the walking path and created with colors that reference local wildflowers. Instagram/arnequinze
The Grotto 1277 Camden St. Artist: Carlos Cortes, 2009 Located at a bend in the San Antonio River between the Camden and Newell Street Bridges, this three-story sculpture is one of the most popular public art projects on the Riverwalk’s Museum Reach. Flickr/Jennifer Roberts
Fiesta Tower 600 Soledad Artist: Dale Chihuly, 2003 Commissioned in celebration of the San Antonio Public Library’s Centennial 13 years ago, this monumental tower of blown glass towers over the open atrium of the Central Library on the second floor, complementing the building’s bold colors and sharp geometry. Instagram/andyotherside
The Saga at San Fernando Cathedral 115 W. Main Plaza Artist: Xavier de Richemont, 2014 You’ve probably seen it plastered all over your Instagram feed, but it’s so worth seeing in real life. Four days a week at multiple times nightly, San Fernando Cathedral is lit up with a 24-minute laser light show that’s truly spectacular. Instagram/arapolla
Golden Age 8400 NW Military Hwy Artist: Anne Wallace, 2013 Right beside the brand spankin’ new Urban Ecology Center in Phil Hardberger Park West is a cluster of three irrigator wheels clad in reflective hardware. The UFO-like installations sit among the restored savanna grasses, sparkling in the light and recalling the natural effect of a wildfire. Instagram/theamygshow
Wickiup Overlook 4700 Old Pearsall Rd Artist: Buster Simpson, 2016 In the middle of San Antonio’s newest Pearsall Park in southwest San Antonio, Wickiup Overlook is an embellished shade structure complete with seating that also doubles as an art installation. Instagram/sachartermoms
Victoria 6000 N. New Braunfels Artist: Philip Grausman, 2007 Viewable both form the road and up-close and personal from the grass, Victoria is a stainless steel sculpture of a head on permanent diaplay on the grounds of the McNay Art Museum. Instagram/vicente_quesada
Chris Park 111 Camp St. Artist: Teresita Fernández, 2007 Outside of the Linda Pace Foundation gallery is Chris Park, a small oasis of foliage and art. Scattered throughout the outdoor space are five pieces by Teresita Hernández, including her Journal Benches (pictured), a fountain and more. Instagram/lindapacefoundation