The city of Davis in Yolo County is perhaps best known as a college town with a strong bicycling culture. But it also has a vibrant art community, with local art galleries and public art initiatives.
Public art can be found throughout the city of Davis. From sculptures and interactive exhibits to murals and kinetic installations, there’s plenty of public art in Davis to explore. In fact, the city has allocated a portion of its budget to public art programs with the ultimate goal of enhancing the aesthetics of the community!
If you’re visiting Davis and are interested in checking out all the public art on display, you’re in luck! The city has published a public art map with a self-guided tour of all the major works. It’s divided into regional sections so you can see as much or as little as you like. Following are some highlights.
Public Art in Downtown Davis
- Sophie. This life-like mosaiced statue of a giraffe stands tall in front of the Hilton Garden Inn. She is so beloved, another iteration, Sleeping Sophie was created in the form of a bench across the street at the Regal Davis Holiday theater.
- The Davis Needle. This towering structure is made of landfill-bound bicycle parts.
- Calico Cat. Located in front of the John Natsoulas Gallery, this enormous mosaic piece doubles as a shaded patio.
- Clepsydra. This sculpture features a clock tower and water fountain in E Street Plaza in downtown Davis.
- Walnut Trio. These three nut-shaped sculptures are integrated with the natural landscape along the Putah Creek Pathway.
- California Republic. Visitors can take a rest on this colorful mosaic bench, an homage to the state flag.
- Cnawan Stone. Known as “The Dancing People” to locals, this is a cast bronze and basalt structure in Central Park.
U.C. Davis Public Art
- Eggheads. Love them or hate them, these egg-shaped head sculptures have been an icon of the campus since they were erected in the early 1990s.
- Bum, Bum You’ve Been Here Before. Created in 1967, this is one of the first public art pieces on campus. Cast out of aluminum and bronze, it depicts a ribbed, winding, pipe-like structure.
Public Art in North Davis
- Domino Effect. It’s hard to miss this striking structure along the North Davis Greenbelt, featuring four enormous black-and-white dominoes.
- Dancing Pigs. Located in a shopping center, this whimsical nursery rhyme-inspired sculpture features three pink dancing pigs.
East Davis Public Art
- Solar Filling Station. Along E. Covell Blvd., this bright and sunny piece is a colorfully painted, old-time fuel pump.
- Same Sun. At first glance, this municipal water tank doesn’t look like much. But when the sun hits it just right, shadows reveal its message: “sol omnibus lucet,” or “the sun shines for everyone.”
Street Murals in Davis
- Cycle Back in Time. This epic mural on the side of the Odd Fellows Lodge depicts city life in Davis, then and now. Featured is the former Davis arch, the Davis Farmers’ Market, and residents riding their bicycles through town.
- Hidden Treasures. The trompe l’oeil technique used on this mural in downtown Davis makes it appear 3D. It depicts a larger-than-life monarch butterfly on a piece of binder paper through a perceived crack in the brick.
- Tribute to Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Depicting the likenesses of several local artists, including the mural’s artist himself, John Natsoulas, this mural pays homage to the 16th-century Flemish painter and those who came after him.
- Street Mandala. This colorful design in the intersection of 4th and K streets welcomes visitors to Old East Davis with its vibrant hues of purple, red, blue, and green.
- Signs and Wonders of an Interdimensional Warrior. Tucked in a downtown alley, this striking mural features a bold native-inspired warrior emerging from the water.
Enjoy Public Art and Murals in Davis
If you’d like to take a self-guided tour of the many public art installations in Davis, a good place to start is the City of Davis Public Art Map. In addition, the Transmedia Art Walk provides an interactive map focusing on works in the downtown area and on the U.C. Davis campus. Davis also hosts the 2nd Friday ArtAbout, a monthly event where you can explore installations, galleries, and art co-ops while enjoying live music and art-centric activities.
With so much public art in Davis to see, you may want to make a weekend of it. If so, check out the many lodging options in Davis, most of which are centrally located so you’ll have easy access to all the pieces you’d like to see. There are also many lodging specials in Davis to take advantage of, so book your getaway today!
