Discover Downtown Greenville’s Eclectic Public Art

With its vibrant Main Street and historic West End, Greenville offers visitors plenty of reasons to spend time downtown. Along with the trendy shops, hip eateries, intimate music venues and highly acclaimed Falls Park on the Reedy, the city center also is home to an incredible array of public art created by artists from around the world.

Some 75 works of art can be found around town—most of them within a one-mile stretch of S. Main Street. Greenville’s Public Art Walking Tour offers a road map to the many sculptures and murals, along with photographs and descriptions of the artwork. So, slip into a comfortable pair of shoes and get walking. 

Here is an easy route to view some of the most impressive pieces in Greenville’s Public Art Walking Tour: 

Vissi d’arte
Location: In the traffic circle at the intersection of University and Howe streets
About the artwork: Gracing the entrance to the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities, this Zan Wells bronze sculpture honors school founder Virginia S. Uldrick.

Sunflower Fountain
Location: Pedrick’s Garden on the west end of Falls Park near University Street
About the artwork: The cast bronze fountain was designed to look like the radiating spirals of the center of a sunflower.

Rose Crystal Tower
Location: West end of Falls Park near University Street
About the artwork: This hand-blown glass sculpture is the work of iconic American artist Dale Chihuly, whose installations are included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. He has been honored with exhibitions at the Louvre in Paris and the Royal Botanic Gardens near London.

Nexus of Light
Location: Intersection of S. Main and Augusta streets
About the artwork: Wisconsin sculptor Dennis Heimbach created this stainless-steel piece – one of two of his works displayed in the city. The other sculpture is located in front of Design Strategies at 130 S. Main St.

Paradigm Pathway
Location: Near the intersection of S. Main Street and Japanese Dogwood Lane
About the artwork: This abstract steel and aluminum sculpture adds a whimsical touch to one of the pedestrian bridges over the Reedy River.

Dick Riley
Location: S. Main Street south of W. Broad Street
About the artwork: Another Zan Wells sculpture, this one honors Greenville resident Dick Riley, a two-term governor of South Carolina who also holds title as the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of Education.

Reminiscence
Location: S. Main Street north of W. Broad Street
About the artwork: The sculpture of a male and female holding a violin and bow is the work of Tuan Nguyen, who was cast into a concentration camp in his native Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and eventually escaped to America.

Il Porcellino
Location: Poinsett Square on S. Main Street between W. Broad Street and W. McBee Avenue
About the artwork: Created by Pietro Tacca, the bronze wild boar is a full-sized replica of a 17th century statue in Florence, Italy. It is rumored to bring good luck to anyone who places a coin in its mouth if the coin falls into the grate below it.

Octo 2
Location: E. McBee Avenue near S. Spring Street
About the artwork: This 18-foot, wind-powered, stainless-steel sculpture is comprised of linked shapes rotating around a circular axis.

Orbital Trio
Location: N. Main Street between E. North and College Streets
About the artwork: The gumballs that fall from the sweet gum tree inspired former Clemson University professor John Acorn to create this piece.

Other artwork worth the short drive to view:

Canvas Mural
Location: Canvas Tower, 301 College St.
About the artwork: The photorealistic mural, depicting Greenville resident and retired teacher Pearlie Harris, was painted on the side of the eight-story building by Australian artist Guido Van Helten.

Aria
Location: 16 Cleveland St.
About the artwork: One of Greenville’s most distinctive pieces of public art, this abstract steel sculpture by artist Michael Neil Jacobsen was recently relocated to Sue Simpson Garden and painted a vibrant sapphire blue.