Charlotte, North Carolina celebrates its rich cultural heritage in a variety of forms. One way is in the form of a diverse line up of statues, sculptures and pieces of public art. I was blown away by the artistry and sheer volume of statues in Charlotte NC!
As someone who is always on the hunt for public art when I travel, whether its street art or sculptures, I loved the diversity in the Queen City! If you looking for fun things to do in Charlotte, exploring a city’s art is a must.
Across Charlotte are an array of statues that pay homage to significate events and influential figures. Among the must-see statues is the iconic “Queen Charlotte,” an elegant representation of the city’s namesake, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Each of Charlotte’s statues not only showcase artistic prowess but also serve as compelling storytellers. They invite locals and visitors alike to delve into the captivating narrative woven into the fabric of Charlotte’s public spaces.
Come with me on a tour of the best statues in the Queen City! Discover the history and story behind each and where its located.
Best Outdoor Statues in Charlotte NC
The Firebird
One of the most popular statues in Charlotte is the Firebird! It’s perched in front of one of the best museums in Charlotte, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
Standing 17 feet tall and weighing 1,433 pounds, the Firebird dominates the museum’s front plaza. Being covered in 7,500 pieces of glass, both mirrored and coloured, its no surprise that it has the nickname Disco Chicken.
Created by artist Niki de Saint Phalle, the Firebird was installed at the Bechtler museum in 2009. This was after it being on exhibit across Europe and the United States.
As a bird lover, the Firebird captured my heart with its striking appearance and whimsy. It’s one of my pieces of art in Charlotte! I love how it sparkles in the sun.
Where to find it? In front of the entrance to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
Four Pillars at Independence Square
One of the most asked about questions when it comes to the city’s statues is what are the four pillars of Charlotte NC?
Charlotte’s four pillars are sculptures located in Independence Square. These sculptures signify the four key components that shaped Charlotte, North Carolina into the city it is today.
The four pillars represent commerce, transportation, industry, and future. They are symbolic of the city’s past, present, and future. Completed in 1995, the statues were created by Raymond Kaskey, a Washington, D.C. sculptor.
A gold prospector represented in the statue for Commerce. It signifies the North Carolina gold rush and the founding of the US Mint in Charlotte. Look for the face below the pan, that’s Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
The pillar for Industry is a statue of a female millworker and is reference to the city’s mill town history. For Transportation, the statue is of an African American man. It celebrates the strength of the men who built the rail lines in Charlotte.
And the statue representing The Future shows a mother raising up her child.
I loved the detail he crafted into each of the pieces. I highly recommend spending time seeing if you can find the hidden details, like the hornet’s nest on the Future statue. This detail is in reference to the city’s nickname as ‘The Hornets Nest’ during the Revolutionary War.
Where to find them? At each of the four corners of Independence Square at the intersection of Trade and Tryon.
Il Grande Disco
Sitting at the Bank of America Plaza is another one of the famous statues in Charlotte, Il Grande Disco. This massive ‘gold disc,’ as its often called, spans 15 feet and weighs 6 tons.
Il Grande Disco, or the Great Disc, was created by Arnaldo Pomodoro and installed in 1974. The Italian sculptor is behind other similar pieces, like one in Milan, Italy.
The bronze sculpture commemorates the declaration of independence from Great Britain in North Carolina. It features a what looks like a map of the city that’s bursting out from the centre.
Where to find it? Bank of America Plaza on Tryon Street.
Art at The Green
One of the best parks in Charlotte is also where you’ll find a number of public art pieces. That park is The Green!
At the southern entrance to The Green are two stacked book sculptures. I loved visiting in the early morning and evenings when the bronze book sculptures appear to glow with the sunlight.
Take a close look at the book statues. Each book is one of the classics from authors from around the world. They include Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, and Oedipus Rex.
This literary themed park is full of pieces that pay homage to literature. But it also has some playful elements. One is the fountain that has four large fish statues that sprout the water.
Where to find it? The Green is located between Tryon Street and College Street, south of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
The Writer’s Desk
The public art piece, the Writer’s Desk, was created in honour of Rolfe Neill, a writer for the local newspaper. It sits in front of ImaginOn, which houses the city’s children’s library and theatre.
As a writer, I fell in love with this piece, both the concept and the symbolism. The Writer’s Desk is a collection of sculptures and pieces that represent the tools of writers.
Towering over the collection is a stack of books with a quill pen in ink atop it. I loved watching the quill glow when the sun hit it.
Next to the book statue are two rubber stamp sculptures, with a third further back. The stamps represent seeking truth, speaking truth and hearing truth.
The collection also includes pencils, which are benches. And next to them are a series of stools that are keys from a typewriter.
On the pencils and stacks of books are an array of quotes. This is one of my favourites:
“To each of our children
I wish to bequeath two characteristics
The capacity for independence
The ability to love
Much of life is lonely
Most decision-making is lonely
Independence of mind is the best insurance for a rewarding journey.”Quotations from the Charlotte Observer Columns
To me, this is such a fun collection of art in Charlotte! It’s both playful and thought provoking. And it’s so fitting to be in front of a family institution to engage youth.
Where to find it? In front of ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center on 7th Street.
Aspire
For me, the most profound statue in Charlotte, North Carolina is Aspire. This massive bronze statue sits in front of the Central Piedmont Community College campus’s Overcash Academic and Performing Arts Center.
Commissioned by Queens Table, a private philanthropic group, the statue weighs 12,000 pounds. It was created by Greg Wyatt, an American sculptor who has pieces around the world.
I was in awe of the massive bronze angel, with its wings outstretched, reaching to the sky. It reminded me of one of the most iconic statues in the Louvre in Paris, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, which is my all-time favourite statue.
Aspire has a few figures at the base with an angel flying out from their reach. Just above the angel is a male figure that also appears to be escaping. The statue has an incredible movement to it and made me think of reaching for the stars and living life to the fullest.
Where to find it? It’s on the lawn between the Central Piedmont Community College and Elizabeth Park on Elizabeth Avenue.
Spiral Odyssey
In the heart of Uptown Charlotte is Romare Bearden Park. The park is named after the famous African-American artist who was born in Charlotte, NC.
Spiral Odyssey is a piece by Romare Bearden’s contemporary, Richard Hunt. This is a fitting pairing, as both were the first African-American artists to have solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art.
The silver statue has a ship’s haul as its base and what appears to be waves or flames rising up from it. Hunt created the piece in homage to Bearden’s works that were inspired by Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey.
But there’s so much more symbolism in the piece. It pays respect to the artist’s life as a Civil Rights activist and Bearden’s own personal journey.
Where to find it? Spiral Odyssey is in Romare Bearden Park.
Best Memorial Statues in Charlotte NC
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue
In the lovely Marshall Park stands one a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Created by sculptor Selma Burke, it pays tribute one of the most influential Civil Rights activists.
The statue stands 8 feet tall and has an inscription on the base. It says, ‘Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Who Dared to Make the American Dream of Freedom for All Americans a Reality.
In 1980 a ceremony was held to dedicate the monument. Incredibly, Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. spoke at it.
Where to find it? The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. statue is located in Marshall Park, closed to 3rd Street.
Queen Charlotte Statue
Its no surprise that there are multiple statues of Queen Charlotte in Charlotte, NC! One is at the airport and the other, my favourite of the two, is located downtown.
The downtown one is known as Queen Charlotte Walks in Her Garden Statue. This life-sized bronze statue is by Bailey Graham Weathers, Jr.
Standing proud, the statue depicts Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England, whom the city of Charlotte was named after.
Wearing a long-sleeved gown with petticoat, the details on the Queen Charlotte statue are striking. In one hand, she holds a small bouquet of flowers. She wears pearls and her dress is accented with flowers.
The statue of the Queen stands in a garden bed. And adding a bit of lightheartedness, two of her dogs are playing at her feet.
She’s poised and regal, looking out over Uptown Charlotte. And I have to admit, standing in front of her, I held back the urge to curtsey.
Where to find it? The Queen Charlotte statue is on the corner of College Street and 5th Street.
Captain Jack
Throughout the city of Charlotte, you’ll find various statues celebrating important people. One of which was of someone I hadn’t heard of before – Captain Jack.
The Captain Jack statue is of him riding a horse, with its mane blowing in the wind. It sits upon a fountain, appearing to run across the water.
This stunning statue, also known as The Spirit of Mecklenburg, is one of the many statues along the Trail of History. It was also the first of the series!
Celebrating key people in history, the Trail of History is home to 10 statues found along a section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
The bronze statue of Captain James Jack, a legendary figure, is by Chas Fagan. Jack is best known for his ride to Philadelphia in 1775. During this daring ride he carried the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to the meeting of the Continental Congress.
Where to find it? The Captain Jack statue is along a section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Elizabeth Park, close to Kings Drive.
More Cool Statues in Charlotte NC
Flying Shuttles – Out front of the Spectrum Center are a collection of statues in Charlotte called Flying Shuttles. Flying Shuttles are four towering 50-foot pillars made of varying materials. They pay tribute to the area’s textile and arts industry history.
Metalmorphosis – At the Whitehall Corporate Center, a business complex, is another striking sculpture in Charlotte. Rising over 30 feet out of a pool of water is a massive head called Metalmorphosis. The piece is by artist David Cerny and is made up of seven rotating segments.
Pillars of Dreams – My dad says it looks like a clump of golf tees. But I think Pillars of Dreams is one of the most whimsical pieces of art in Charlotte. This puffy cloudy-like piece stands 26 feet tall and was created by Marc Fornes. And it’s located in front of the Valerie C. Woodard Center.
Ainsa III – Located in First Ward Park is the Charlotte statue Ainsa III. The 12-foot statue looks like a figure crouching and is made of metal letters. The letters are from nine international alphabets. The statue, by Jaume Plensa, was created to represent cultures from across the globe.
Embrace – On the corner of Monroe Road and Conference Drive is the Embrace sculpture. The area is full of other art forms and a popular spot for community events. Embrace was designed by Leslie Scott and made up of thousands of mosaic tiles handcrafted by the community.
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