Colorado Springs is best known for the dramatic rise of Pikes Peak, the Garden of the Gods, and an adventurous spirit that draws hikers and climbers from around the world. But tucked between its natural wonders is another treasure: a vibrant public art scene. Murals splash color on brick walls, sculptures invite interaction in downtown plazas, and creative projects transform everyday spaces like traffic signal boxes and parks into galleries. For locals, this art is part of daily life. For visitors, it offers a new way to explore the city beyond hiking trails and tourist attractions.
This journey through Colorado Springs’ public art highlights five must-see stops. Each one shows how creativity shapes the city’s identity — and each comes alive with stories from artists, community members, and visitors who stumble upon them.
Art on the Streets (Downtown Colorado Springs)
What & Why It’s Special
Art on the Streets is the flagship public art program in Colorado Springs. Every summer, a new collection of temporary works — sculptures, murals, and installations — appears across downtown, turning sidewalks and plazas into an open-air museum. Now in its 27th year, it’s one of the longest-running rotating public art exhibitions in the country. Artists from around the globe submit proposals, and a jury selects the most thought-provoking pieces.
The program ensures that art is not confined to galleries but woven into the everyday fabric of the city. One year, passersby might encounter a towering sculpture shaped like a “doom scroll” of a smartphone feed. Another year, they might see playful works like giant bronze animals perched on corners. Each season feels different, which keeps locals returning to rediscover their city.
What People Say
According to CPR News, “A dozen new works of public art have been installed throughout downtown Colorado Springs as part of the 27th annual Art on the Streets exhibition.” One visitor commented online that strolling through downtown during the exhibit “feels like walking through a free museum, only without walls.” Families especially enjoy it, as kids can interact with large sculptures without worrying about gallery rules.
Where to Find It
The works are spread across a 40-block creative district, with a concentration around Tejon Street. The Plaza of the Rockies is a consistent anchor point.
Arte Mestiza (Fine Arts Center, Colorado College)
What & Why It’s Special
Inside the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, a monumental mural titled Arte Mestiza stretches 200 feet long. Painted in 1986 by Chicano artist Emanuel Martínez, it celebrates the blending of cultures — Spanish, Indigenous, Mexican, and Mexican-American — that shape the region’s identity. With vivid color and intricate symbolism, the mural reflects resilience and pride. It was restored with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, underscoring its cultural importance.
What People Say
The Fine Arts Center describes the work as “a superb example of the monumentality of Martinez’s style” and a reminder of “the contributions of Spanish, Indigenous, Mexican, and Mexican Americans to the stories we tell about art.” Visitors have called it “a mural that feels like history painted on the walls.”
Where to Find It
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale Street.
Murals Across the Pikes Peak Region
What & Why It’s Special
Colorado Springs is mural heaven. Entire alleys, building facades, and even storm drains have been transformed into canvases. The tourism board’s “Photo-Worthy Murals” guide highlights favorites like Jason Baalman’s Old Colorado City History mural, Mike Fudge’s “We Are In This Together” (addressing mental health), and the towering 77-foot “Urban BioSphere Fragmented.”
Murals here aren’t just pretty — they often comment on social issues, local history, or natural beauty. Because many are in walkable districts like Old Colorado City, they double as fun scavenger hunts for visitors with cameras.
What People Say
VisitCOS encourages travelers to “find art in every corner of the Pikes Peak region.” UncoverColorado raves that the 77-foot mural on Pikes Peak Avenue “stops people in their tracks.” Instagram users echo the same, with many posts tagged #COSmurals drawing thousands of likes.
Where to Find It
Old Colorado City is mural central, with several along Colorado Avenue. Downtown’s Pikes Peak Avenue and Tejon Street corridor also host striking works.
The City’s Permanent Collection & Community Projects
What & Why It’s Special
The city maintains over 100 permanent public artworks, from bronze statues in parks to painted utility boxes. These are overseen by the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and the Public Art Commission. Works include whimsical animal sculptures, abstract steel forms, and memorial pieces. A recent favorite is Tara Sauvain’s “Living With the Parking Brake On,” a butterfly-themed sculpture installed at Nancy Lewis Park to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease.
What People Say
CSPM notes that “the majority of works are located downtown — eight artworks on the grounds of the museum, 12 on Pikes Peak Avenue.” Locals often say these pieces “make downtown feel more walkable and inviting.”
Where to Find It
Nancy Lewis Park, Pikes Peak Avenue corridor, and dozens of neighborhood corners where traffic signal boxes are painted.
Continuum at America the Beautiful Park (Bonus Highlight)
What & Why It’s Special
At the edge of downtown stands a striking landmark: Continuum, a massive steel sculpture by artist Christopher Weed located in America the Beautiful Park. The piece resembles a spiraling cone with interlocking rings, symbolizing unity, growth, and motion. Rising 40 feet tall, it frames views of Pikes Peak in the distance. At night, it glows with LED lighting, creating a beacon for the park.
Continuum is more than a sculpture — it has become a gathering place. Children play in the splash fountain nearby, couples take engagement photos under its arches, and festivals often use it as a backdrop. Its name reflects the ongoing story of Colorado Springs: always evolving, yet rooted in natural beauty.
What People Say
On Tripadvisor, one reviewer wrote: “The Continuum sculpture is breathtaking — it perfectly frames the mountains behind it.” Another called it “a must-see landmark that combines art, engineering, and natural scenery.”
Where to Find It
America the Beautiful Park, 126 Cimino Drive.
Tips for Locals & Visitors
- Plan a walking tour downtown with the help of the PeakRadar Public Art Map.
- Visit during First Friday Art Walks for a lively street scene.
- Take photos at murals but be mindful of businesses or residents nearby.
- Bring water and good walking shoes — the best art is found by wandering.
Final Thoughts
Colorado Springs proves that art is not just for galleries. From rotating exhibitions downtown to murals that spark conversations, from cultural landmarks like Arte Mestiza to futuristic sculptures like Continuum, the city invites everyone to engage with creativity in daily life. Whether you’re a visitor looking for unique photo ops or a local rediscovering your neighborhood, these public art experiences paint a fuller picture of the Rockies’ cultural heart.