Annual Outdoor Public Art Exhibition

Due to the ongoing winter storm, City facilities, including City Hall and all Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18. This is due to the forecasted winter storm resulting in dangerous travel conditions.

Read the news release for full details >>

2025 Exhibition

The application period for the 2025 exhibition opens on Monday, February 10, and closes on at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Click this link to review the 2025 Application Information and Guidelines

Online Application Form:

Application deadline was 11:00 p.m., March 16, 2025

2024 Exhibition

Side-by-side photos of the seven artworks in the 2024 exhibition

Rollin Karg, Pat Slimmer, Mara Strayer, Suzan Hampton, V. skip Willits, Myles Schachter, Kristin Garnant

Join us for the opening reception and sculpture walk starting at 5:30 p.m. at the eXplore Lawrence Visitor Center on Friday, May 31!

Seven artists were selected for this year's exhibition 2024 Brochure/Map:

And, several works remain on encore display from 2023:

People can also view this year’s artworks or conduct self-guided tours by using the Otocast app which can be found at your favorite app store:

2023 Lawrence Annual Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition (ODSE)

The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission’s Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition has a proud tradition. The exhibition was founded by Jim Patti in 1987 and is sponsored by the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, which receives financial and staff support from the City of Lawrence. Artworks are displayed or performed in downtown Lawrence, at Theatre Lawrence and city-wide.

Here’s a PDF version of the 2023 Brochure/Map.  In addition to being a popular annual exhibition for locals and visitors, artists gain hands-on professional experience developing and installing artworks in the public realm.

nine sculpture images arranged as a header
2023 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition sculptures

2023 Participating Artists

  1. David Vertačnik, Lawrence, KS
  2. Jacob Burmood, St. Joseph, MO
  3. Will Vannerson, Kansas City, MO
  4. Myles Schachter, Lawrence, KS
  5. Pat Slimmer, Lawrence, KS
  6. Alicia Kelly, Lawrence, KS
  7. Sarah Gross, Lawrence, KS
  8. Mara Strayer, Lawrence, KS
  9. V. Skip Willits, Comanche, IA

Previous Exhibitions