Discover some of the best public art in Calgary from the Peace Bridge and Wonderland to the Corridor of Connection and the Centre Street Lions.
Top Public Art in Calgary
Public Art
Top Public Art in Calgary
Look way, way up at the world's tallest mural
Internationally renowned German artist DAIM added the world’s tallest mural to downtown Calgary as part of the BUMP Festival in 2022. The mural took three weeks to complete, 500 cans of spray paint in orange, black, grey, blue, and white, and stands 95 metres high.
Location: First on Tenth, 123 10 Avenue SW
Photo credit: @b4_flight on Instagram
Get in the game in East Village
Pickup basketball games and your latest Instagram shot deserve a good backdrop. The Bounce Games Park in East Village includes this colourful mural by artist duo MAUD, along with a basketball court, ping pong tables, and hopscotch too.
Location: 8 Ave SE
The Bounce mural by artist duo MAUD (Photo credit: Jessica Gray)
The Bounce Games Park in East Village (Photo credit: Jessica Gray)
Wander into Wonderland
Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s Wonderland welcomes visitors to The Bow building in downtown Calgary. The sculpture of a young girl’s head is an impressive 12 metres high and you can even wander inside the sculpture for a whole new perspective on Calgary.
Location: 110 6 Ave SE
Wonderland at the Bow Building (Photo credit: Neil Zeller)
Take a swim at the Calgary Central Library
10,260 books in 12 colours put you right in the fishbowl on the third floor of the Calgary Central Library. Artist Christian Moeller brings the panoramic FISH to life while you get lost in a good book or peer into the light filled atrium of this architectural wonder in East Village.
Location: 800 3 St SE
FISH (2018) at the Calgary Central Library (Photo credit: Chris Amat)
Pause for conversation
Two businessmen pause for an important conversation. This simple moment of community is the setting for The Conversation, a bronze statue on Stephen Avenue, and a must-see piece of public art in Calgary.
Location: 200-216 8 Ave SW
The Conversation on Stephen Avenue.
Get your boots on
True to Calgary’s western heritage, artist Jill Stanton’s colourful cowboy boots mural on 17th Avenue will have you two stepping your way to the next mural. The BUMP (Beltline Urban Murals Project) Festival uses the blank side of buildings as its canvas with new public art popping up around every corner.
Location: 1126 17th Ave SW
BUMP Festival mural by artist Jill Stanton (Photo credit: Jennie Price)
BUMP Mural Tours
Explore Calgary’s open air street art gallery with an official guided mural tour led by the BUMP Festival! See 20+ murals in the heart of the Beltline, marvel at record breaking artworks, celebrate local history, and learn about the most iconic murals in the city.
Roar with the Centre Street Lions
Over 100 years ago, the Centre Street Lions made their first appearance atop the Centre Street Bridge in downtown Calgary. Today, one of the original lions sits atop a new perch in Rotary Park for the perfect photo op overlooking downtown Calgary.
Location: 617 1 St NE
Centre Street Lions (Photo credit: Andrew Bain)
Stroll through the Corridor of Connection
Connecting the vibrant East Village and the emerging Victoria Park neighbourhood, the Corridor of Connection is a colourful mural along the 4th Street SE underpass. Calgary artist Michelle Hoogveld painted for seven weeks, using 70 gallons of paint, to create this 950 foot mural along both sides of the underpass.
Location: 5 St SW
The Corridor of Connection in East Village (Photo credit: Jessica Gray)
Take a walk across the Peace Bridge
Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, as many as 6,000 people cross the Bow River on the Peace Bridge each day. Get your next Instagram shot of the Peace Bridge from the north side of the river with the Calgary skyline as the backdrop.
Location: Peace Bridge, Calgary, AB
The Peace Bridge. (Photo credit: Jessica Gray)
The Peace Bridge. (Photo credit: Tom Day)
Get lost in the trees on Stephen Avenue
Follow the twisting Galleria Trees and you’ll find yourself at the heart of Stephen Avenue in Downtown Calgary. LED lights and music bring these towering trees to life at the doorstep of Bankers Hall and The CORE Shopping Centre.
Location: 8 Ave SW
Galleria Trees on Stephen Avenue (Photo credit: Colin Way)
Saddle up with the Iron Horse
Add the Iron Horse to your tour of Stephen Avenue. Located in front of the classic steakhouse Saltlik, and one block from the Calgary Tower, the Iron Horse is constructed from mostly found metal and has become an iconic piece of downtown art and a favourite of photographers.
Location: 101 8 Ave SW
Iron Horse on Stephen Avenue (Photo credit: Canadian Tourism Commission)
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https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/10-iconic-buildings-in-calgary