2022 Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition

About the Competition

The 22nd Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition is on display on the Lemon Street Promenade and Lakeland Public Library now through the end of 2022. In the fall of 2021, artists submitted applications through an online application process for consideration in the 2021 show. A jury comprised of City staff, Polk Museum of Art representatives and members from the local arts community gathered to review the pieces of art. Artists submitted more than 60 sculptures for review, with the jury picking 12 of the very best to be displayed.

This year, the footprint of the exhibit space has expanded to include two sculptures at the Lakeland Public Library on Lake Morton. The remaining 10 sculptures cover three blocks of Lemon Street between South Florida and Massachusetts Avenue. The artwork along the Lemon Street Promenade and Library provides a great aesthetic that can be enjoyed on a weekend stroll or as a diversion while visiting the swans on Lake Morton. This year the jury chose several pieces that lend themselves to selfie spots. "Red Digital Arch" and "Guardian Wings" can be found on Lemon Street, but you won't want to miss "Wonder" at the Library - where you can stand underneath whimsical flowers for a Seuss-inspired photo op.

Pam Page, Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts, said, “The sculptures on Lemon Street were introduced to provide free access to public art for all who live and visit our community. We are fortunate to live in a City that recognizes the value of public art that introduces culture and well-being.”

Previous years:
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

People's Choice Award

Congrats to this year's winner "(Un)raveled" by sculptor Austin Darby!

Meet the Artists

Austin Darby | Charleston, SC | *People's Choice Winner*
(Un)raveled
Medium: Rope and steel

A Note from the Artist

Guided by my studies in philosophy and natural sciences, (Un)raveled navigates the existential relationships between mind and body as well as between body and time. The partial figure is frozen in a kind of stasis, appearing to be both emerging from and deteriorating to the formless mass of rope below. The body is a vulnerable and temporary thing—its existence is minuscule in relation to the infinite expanse of space and time. The hollow appearance of the figure is a reminder that the body is foremost a vessel. This vessel is a material extension of our immaterial selves that enables us to experience the world around us. In the same way, the rope is what forms this vessel and grounds the figure—tethering it to a material plane.

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Jim Gallucci | Greensboro, NC
Red Digital Arch
Medium: powder-coated steel

A Note from the Artist

My sculptures utilize the element of doors and gateways. This symbolism arises from the paradox that the gate inherently possesses. A gate may be opened or closed; a way of passage or obstruction; a means of confinement or release. And today, the symbol of gates is used to describe a computer chip at work, storing or releasing bytes of information. “I use the format of gates and doors in my sculpture in order to give the public access to my art.

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Hanna Jubran | Grimesland, NC
Dark Matter
Medium: Steel and paint

A Note from the Artist

Dark Matter - UNIVERSE OF THE MIND: INQUIRY & INSPIRATION BY NATURE My concept and development of this exhibition evolved from my interest in astronomy, the cosmos, and the natural science studies of celestial objects and phenomena. An exploration into the cosmos implies a universe

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Glenn Zweygardt | Alfred Station, NY (Library location)
Ode to Growth
Medium: Marble, Steel, Stainless Steel, Cast Bronze, Glass, Iron

A Note from the Artist

Ode To Growth is a sculpture comprised of a 3-D pierced stainless steel oval with an inset of cast glass and crown of cast bronze and cast ductile iron elements on a column of pink Georgian marble.

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Kirk Seese | Lutherville-Timonium, MD
Icosahedron
Medium: Welded 2" tubular steel, MDO Board, UV inks, Piano hinges

A Note from the Artist

Open love letter to public art:

What I love about you, public art, is that you are meant for everyone!

You require no entry fee,
no cover charge
or special invitation.

Set free from the galleries,
museums
and private homes of the past.

You're out there, in the wild,
unapologetic,
yet vulnerable,
and for everyone to see!

You must be strong,
durable,
able to withstand all types of weather,
public scrutiny
and the test of time!

You can be interactive,
kinetic
or stationary,
and come in so many forms;
paint,
stone,
wood,
glass,
metal,
digital,
vinyl,
plastic,
and everything in between!

In all shapes and sizes.

You invite discussion,

and bring the world of visual arts to people’s everyday lives.

For all these reasons and many more,
I will adore you for the rest of my life!

Hopelessly smitten,
Kirk

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Abigail Cochran | Virginia Beach, VA (Library location)
Wonder
Medium: Fabricated steel

A Note from the Artist

A Playful grouping of oversized whimsical flowers evokes a sense of wonder for viewers of all ages.

n much of my work, I've attempted to capture both the spontaneity and order found in nature through a focus on organic or natural subject matter. Much of the art I create is inspired by the unexpected yet somewhat predictable patterns and forms found in living organisms. This likely stems from the days spent working in my garden, and my life long-love of landscaping as a means of therapeutic escape. I am interested in making art that not only brings joy and inspires the viewer, but also causes them to ponder the beauty of life and creation. I make art for the enjoyment of the viewer, as well as to satisfy my own curiosity. Hopefully my work is able to instill both a sense of wonder, and bring joy to those who experience it. I believe art should communicate and reveal the artist's passions and perspectives, while at the same time connect with others who will bring their own ideas and understanding to the object or subject at hand.

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Jessica Bradsher | Greenville, NC
Guardian Wings
Medium: Steel and wood
Currently removed due to damage from Hurricane Ian.

A Note from the Artist

“Guardian Wings” is meant to bring viewers a moment of engagement with art. People are invited to photograph themselves in front of the work and appear as if they are wearing the wings. The piece may evoke their personal interpretations of what it means to be a guardian angel.

Jessica Bradsher is a Sculptor and Painter living and working in Greenville, NC. Much of her outdoor work is figurative. She often addresses the theme of "empathy" in her pieces, engaging viewers with sculpted facial expressions and imaginative concepts. Her primary avenues of creation are life-casting, forging and welding with steel, bronze, aluminum, and iron.

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Mel Pruitt | Cleveland, TN

Windsors Cloud Pierce
Medium: Powder Coated Mild Steel, Polished Stainless Steel

A Note from the Artist

This work is inspired by a Mentor who taught a young man skills he would use for the rest of his life. The heavy steel rings rise above the ground in a playful manner positioned for optimum eye play. The polished stainless tube spears the third ring and sends this sculpture soaring to the clouds.

Email
James Futral | Fort Myers, FL

Red Buffalo
Medium: Metal
Tim Curtis | Key West, FL
Lick
Medium: aluminum

A Note from the Artist

A lick is a musical expression. In jazz it is called a phrase, in rock it is called a riff, in heavy metal it is called a lick. Music is very difficult to express in art without being cliche', even more so in sculpture. This is an excellent example of a successful rendition.

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Hanna Jubran | Grimesland, NC
Nitrogenous
Medium: Steel and paint

A Note from the Artist

Nitrogenous is based on the double helix, DNA and RNA

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Glenn Zweygardt | Alfred Station, NY
ZigZag Blues
Medium: Painted Steel, Cast Glass, Black Granite

A Note from the Artist

With the development of computerized metal cutting, all kinds of difficult exacting shapes become possible. ZigZag Blues the result of such new technology. I see it as liberating the imagination and requiring far less intensive labor, thus making a gesture of unexpected energy and exuberance!

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- Website

Lemon Street Promenade & Lakeland Public Library

Covering three (3) blocks of Lemon Street between South Florida Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, a visit to the FLOSC sculptures on the Lemon Street Promenade is perfect for a quick weekend outing or during a lunch break.

Added in 2022, two additional sculptures can be found at the Lakeland Public Library. The library's location, just south of Lakeland's downtown core, can be a leisurely walk or short drive from the Lemon Street pieces.

Which sculpture is YOUR favorite?

Walking Tour

Developed by the City of Lakeland's GIS Team, this GPS-enabled map will allow you to walk through the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition either virtually or in-person!

Audio Tour by Otocast

Powered by the Otocast app, you can download and install the app to find the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition tour with voice recordings from the artists talking about each sculpture.

Find it on Google Play | App Store (Apple)