Palm Springs features a distinctive collection of public art, from monumental sculptures and contemporary installations to artist-designed benches and interactive landmarks. Discover iconic works like Forever Marilyn and the Pillars of Palm Springs, plus sculptures in neighborhood parks and along major roadways. This guide focuses on the city's sculptures and installations, with a few notable exceptions that have become recognizable visitor landmarks.
Use this guide to discover public art throughout Palm Springs, then consult the Download the Public Art Map and set off on your own curated art tour.
Iconic Public Art in Downtown Palm Springs
Forever Marilyn
“Forever Marilyn” has become one of Palm Springs' most beloved attractions. Seward Johnson's 26-foot sculpture was a tourism phenomenon at its debut in Palm Springs and has since returned to a permanent location. Marilyn Monroe has a rich history with Palm Springs, beginning in 1949, when William Morris talent agent Johnny Hyde discovered her at Charlie Farrell’s Racquet Club. She is located in downtown Palm Springs Park.
👉Take a Palm Springs Art Walking Tour: Museums, Galleries & Public Art Downtown
Isabelle
Located beside the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel, Isabelle by artist Julian Voss-Andreae is a towering stainless-steel sculpture that changes in appearance as visitors move around it. Its carefully arranged metal elements create shifting visual effects, giving the artwork a sense of movement and transformation.
The sculpture is especially easy to explore on foot while visiting downtown shops, restaurants, and other nearby public art.
Colette Miller's Global Angel Wings
Colette Miller's colorful angel wings mural is a playful, interactive work that invites visitors to stand between the wings for a photo. Part of the artist's Global Angel Wings Project, the mural adds a participatory element to downtown's public art collection.
PS I Love You
The PS I Love You installation is another recognizable downtown photo stop. Its lettering and sculptural design celebrate Palm Springs and offer a natural addition to a self-guided walk that includes Forever Marilyn, Isabelle, and nearby murals.
Sonny Bono
Emmanuil Snitkovsky’s statue of Mayor Sonny Bono stands proudly in downtown Plaza Mercado, with an additional bust at the airport.
Lucille Ball
Snitkovsky also sculpted Lucille Ball, perched on a bench across from the Welwood Murray Memorial Library at Tahquitz and Palm Canyon.
Gene Autry
At the corner of Gene Autry Trail and Ramon Road, De L’Esprie’s equestrian statue, Back in the Saddle Again, honors singing cowboy Gene Autry.
Art That Celebrates Palm Springs History and Culture
Agua Caliente Women and A Young Basketmaker
Palm Springs' public art also recognizes the enduring presence and cultural traditions of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
Sculptor Doug Hyde created Agua Caliente Women and A Young Basketmaker to honor Indigenous women, cultural traditions, and the art of basketmaking. These sculptures give visitors a chance to learn more about the Native heritage central to Palm Springs' history and identity.
Explore more through our guide to Native Palm Springs.
The Art Benches of Palm Springs
Look for artist-designed benches throughout downtown Palm Springs. These functional works of art transform ordinary places to sit into colorful expressions of local creativity. Painted benches by artist Tysen Knight and other participating artists add unexpected bursts of color along the city's pedestrian corridors.
For more details, visit Colorful Creations: Exploring the Art Benches of Palm Springs
The Pillars of Palm Springs
One of the city's most distinctive public art projects is the Pillars of Palm Springs, a collection of six large-scale artworks installed along the median of East Tahquitz Canyon Way between Palm Canyon Drive and Palm Springs International Airport. The City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission commissioned the project, unveiled in April 2024.
Each pillar interprets a different theme: Creativity, Serenity, Diversity, Civility, Community, or Equality. Together, the six works explore Palm Springs' broader identity.
The collection includes Roger Reutimann's Creativity pillar, which incorporates a stylized 1959 Cadillac with cactus-inspired elements. Other works explore the desert environment, contemporary design, and the city's diverse community.
Because the sculptures extend along a major roadway, visitors can see them while traveling between the airport and downtown. Drivers should stay focused on the road and avoid stopping in the median.
Read more in our dedicated guide to the Pillars of Palm Springs.
New Public Art in Palm Springs' Neighborhood Parks
Palm Springs continues to expand its collection beyond downtown. In April 2026, the City dedicated four new sculptures through its ArtScape in the Parks program, placing contemporary artworks in neighborhood parks across the city.
The new installations are:
- Shapes and Sizes by Ben Sinor at Desert Highland Park
- Rover by Jeff Zischke at Victoria Park
- Dancer #6 by Lyle London at Gateway Park
- Spegody by Jack Howard-Potter at Baristo Park
The project brings more public art into everyday community spaces, giving visitors another reason to explore Palm Springs beyond its central shopping and dining districts.
Public Art at Palm Springs International Airport
Art also shapes the arrival experience at Palm Springs International Airport. In June 2026, the airport introduced Art@PSP, a public art program designed to reflect the Coachella Valley's culture and visual identity.
The program debuted with Desert in Motion, an installation by Riverside County artist Patrick Barwinski that transforms 14 baggage-claim columns with geometric shapes and vivid colors inspired by the region's architecture, palm-lined settings, and desert landscape. The exhibition is scheduled to remain on display through January 2027.
Because airport art rotates with exhibitions, visitors should check current airport information for the latest installations.
Convention Center Art and Natural Inspiration
Crouching Cougar
Public art also punctuates the Palm Springs Convention Center grounds, designed to reflect the surrounding desert landscape. At its entrance, Steve Tyree’s Crouching Cougar blends seamlessly with the terrain, an emblem of strength and stealth.
Sculptures Along the Road and Around Town
Monsieur Pompadour
Near the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Karen and Tony Barone’s delightful duo, Monsieur Pompadour and Mademoiselle Coco, add a touch of pop-art flair with their oversized blue dog and cat. Their electric-blue pup R. Hero stands proudly at Fire Station #3, mirrored by a red version at the Palm Springs Public Library—colorful guardians of our city’s heart.
Palm Springs also embraces the boldness of abstract sculpture:
- Delos Van Earl’s Jungle Red, a sleek, serpentine sculpture, greets visitors to the Warm Sands neighborhood.
- La Vern Carroll’s Desert Hinge stands at the Highland Gateway, austere yet elegant.
- John Clement infuses energy and form into three colorful works across town:
- Squeeze – at Palm Canyon Theater
- Ithiel – at 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Wind Wave
At the northern entrance to Escena Country Club, Steve Rieman’s Wind Wave bends metallic limbs skyward, echoing the motion of desert breezes.
Wave Rhythms
John Mishler’s kinetic Wave Rhythms sculpture resides at Sunrise Park (Sunrise Way and Ramon), a hidden gem that's easy to miss but worth seeking out.
Frances Stevens Park
Pride Monument
The Pride Monument recognizes the contributions and history of the LGBTQ+ community in Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley. It forms part of the city's public art collection and reflects the importance of inclusion, visibility, and community.
Rainmaker
And at the corner of Alejo and Palm Canyon Drive, David Morris’s shimmering water-inspired installation Rainmaker creates a visual oasis in Frances Stevens Park.
Plan a Palm Springs Public Art Adventure
You don't need to visit a museum to experience Palm Springs' creativity. Start downtown with Forever Marilyn, Isabelle, the angel wings mural, and the PS I Love You installation. Then explore the Pillars of Palm Springs, visit neighborhood parks, or look for sculptures along the city's major roadways.
For an up-to-date overview of the city's collection, consult the City of Palm Springs Public Art Map. You can also explore our Palm Springs Art Walking Tour for more ideas.
Palm Springs' public art is an evolving part of the city's character. From monumental sculptures to small, unexpected discoveries, the collection offers visitors another way to experience the city's creativity, history, and sense of place.
City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission
The City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission curates, funds, and maintains these installations, ensuring creativity remains an integral part of everyday life here. Through partnerships with artists and local organizations, the program continues to evolve and grow.
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