Public Art

Art installations, sculptures and murals punctuate Reno’s urban landscape. Take a leisurely stroll or hop on two wheels and explore MidTown or downtown to find locally-made pieces of artwork, art installations straight from Black Rock City or other unique findings.

City Plaza

City Plaza, located downtown at the corner of First and South Virginia St., is home to two former Burning Man pieces – BELIEVE and Space Whale.

BELIEVE is made of 4-foot-thick steel and spans 70 feet wide. It’s become a favorite attraction for locals and visitors alike, providing a like-worthy photo for your Instagram feed. Space Whale is a life-sized stained glass and steel sculpture of a humpback whale mother and calf. The 50-foot-tall installation is the creation of Matt Schultz, a Reno local, and Android Jones of Colorado.

Larger-than-life Murals

We LOVE murals in Reno! So much so, that there is an annual 24-hour Mural Marathon competition during which artists compete for the best mural on the side of Circus Circus, along Virginia Street. Downtown and the MidTown District are home to more than 100 larger-than-life murals, painted by local, national and international artists. In addition to captivating the eye, these murals add color and creativity to Reno’s urban landscapes. Follow this Art Spot Reno MidTown Reno Mural Tour map, take part in a monthly guided tour or simply let your curiosity lead you around town to find your favorite masterpiece.

3-D Wonders

The Sculpture Garden in Bicentennial Park was a partnership between the Reno Arts & Culture Commission and the Rotary Club of Reno. Visitors can walk through six sculptures alongside the Truckee River and can experience a self-guided audio tour by dialing the number located at the base of the sculpture. Experience the sculptures and their beautiful surroundings at Bicentennial Park on the Truckee River, across from the main island of Wingfield Park.

Reno’s Neon Line District consists of several Burning Man sculptures including Desert Guard, Rearing Horse, Bloom and SQUARED. Stretching from West St. to Keystone Ave. and Interstate 80 South to West Second St., visitors can interact with various sculptures. The art installations will be rotated out every two years so make sure you stop by Reno’s Neon Line next time you’re in town.

The Sparks Art Walk is a public art experience in Victorian Square in downtown Sparks. This curated collection will regularly rotate and features art pieces by local and regional artists. Current pieces include Identity Awareness, which first appeared at Burning Man, Sagebrush Bee, made from steel, concrete and pennies, and other large-scale art installations, as well as a mural.

Find even more unique art pieces around the Biggest Little City with this comprehensive Public Art map, which includes sculptures and murals, as well as bike racks and signal boxes that have been created to add to the city’s aesthetic. Or take a month-long tour of all the city’s art during Artown.