A Tour of Charlotte’s Sculptures & Statues
Large and small, loud and subtle, Charlotte’s public sculptures are reflective of the city’s culture.
by Virginia Brown
“The Sculptures on the Square”
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: Intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets
Four towering bronze sculptures keep watch over Independence Square at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets in Uptown. The 5,000-pound monuments by sculptor Raymond Kaskey point to many of the Queen City’s shaping forces: transportation, future, industry and commerce.
“Transportation” shines a light on African Americans who worked to build Charlotte’s railroad system. “Future,” represented by a mother and child, points to potential, while women and textile mill workers are the focus of “Industry.” A gold miner signifies “Commerce” and the country’s first gold rush, which took place in Charlotte.
“The Firebird”
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Sometimes referred to by locals as the “Disco Chicken,” “The Firebird” is a 17-foot sculpture on the plaza in front of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1991 by artist Niki de Saint Phalle, the sculpture is covered from top to bottom in a mosaic of mirrored and colored glass, making for a magnetic photo opportunity.
Art at The Green
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: 425 S. Tryon St.
The Green is a pocket park in Uptown that makes it easy to escape for a quick bite or leisurely stroll. A lively literary theme features whimsical sculptures, including water-spouting fish and a picnic-friendly landscape.
“La Cascade”
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: Carillon Tower, 227 W. Trade St.
Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, a longtime family friend of Andreas Bechtler who is the namesake of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, is behind the whimsical cascading installation inside the Carillon Tower. Forty feet overhead, you’ll find artifacts, objects and flashing lights in all shapes, sizes and colors, secured by pulleys and motors that whir in a musical motion.
“Il Grande Disco”
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: Bank of America Plaza, Trade Street
Known as the great disc in Italian, “Il Grande Disco” is a massive bronze wheel located at near the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets, weighing six tons and spanning 15 feet. Sometimes referred to as the “gold disc” by locals, this coin-like sculpture features a map of the city bursting out from the center. Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro sculpted this along with five similar works globally.
“The Writer’s Desk”
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: 300 E. 7th St.
This tribute to Rolfe Neill, longtime publisher of the Charlotte Observer and patron of the arts, features a combination of his own words carved in stone, plus tools like typewriters and ink pens. According to artist Larry Kirkland, interaction is encouraged. “A keyboard becomes a series of seats ready for a performance, a scattering of pencils are benches, a tower of books becomes a light reflecting beacon, three rubber stamps admonish the viewer to Seek the Truth, Speak the Truth, and Hear the Truth,” he explains.
“Queen Charlotte Walks in Her Garden”
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: Wake Forest University Charlotte Center, 200 N. College St.
Honoring the Queen City’s namesake, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, this life-size bronze sculpture is situated in a garden in front of Wake Forest University Charlotte Center. Artist Bailey Graham Weathers Jr. sculpted the queen wearing a long-sleeve gown with a petticoat and train. Joining her among the vibrant blooms are sculptures of her two dogs.
Queen Charlotte Sculpture
Neighborhood: Airport
Location: Charlotte Douglas International Airport in the terminal lobby
This 15-foot-tall Queen Charlotte sculpture by Raymond Kaskey was moved to the Queen’s Court terminal lobby at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2023. Dedicated in 1990, the bronze statue that depicts the city’s namesake — Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg — was modeled to appear like she is blowing in the wind.
“Ascendus”
Neighborhood: Airport
Location: Billy Graham Parkway
Fittingly located near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, “Ascendus” is a 60-foot, wing-like, tilted sculpture that suggests flight and ascension. Set against a lush backdrop of Carolina trees and shrubs, the 2012 work was crafted by artist Ed Carpenter using a combination of galvanized and stainless steel, laminated glass and LED flood lights.
“Metalmorphosis”
Neighborhood: Southwest Charlotte
Location: Whitehall Corporate Center, 3700 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 115
Like something out of a sci-fi film, Czech artist David Cerny’s “Metalmorphosis” rises 31 feet high and weighs a whopping 14 tons. The mirrored sculpture, housed at the Whitehall Corporate Center, is made up of 40 steel pieces, including seven rotating segments that create shiny abstract shapes and images. When aligned, they form a giant silver head whose mouth spits water into a surrounding pool.
“Pillars of Dreams”
Neighborhood: Southwest Charlotte
Location: Valerie C. Woodard Center, 3205 Freedom, Dr.
At the Valerie C. Woodard Center, “Pillars of Dreams” is a 26-foot high cloudy creation rooted to the ground by peg-like structures. Made up of two layers of perforated aluminum, creator Marc Fornes installed the pavilion art to encourage personal interaction, explaining “it catches the eye from the street, but must be approached to be understood. The intensity of color grows as one nears the pavilion and finally envelopes the viewer upon entry — curiosity rewarded.”
“Pete with the Big Feet”
Neighborhood: West Charlotte
Location: River District, 8311 Dixie River Road
Charlotte’s emerging residential area, the River District, is home to a gentle giant resting in the woods. “Pete with the Big Feet” is a 65-foot-tall sculpture from Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo. Pete was made with wood collected within the area and around the Catawba River.
Article originally written by Virginia Brown. Updates by Arielle Patterson in June 2026.
