List of public art by Oldenburg and van Bruggen

This is a list of public art by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, also termed their "large scale projects". Oldenburg (1929-2022) and van Bruggen (1942–2009) were married Swedish-American and American-Dutch sculptors (respectively), best known for their Installation art typically featuring very large replicas of everyday objects. This list does not include all other types of artistic works by the artists (for example drawings and "happenings") and other sculptural works which are not public art (for example soft sculptures such as "Giant BLT").

With the exception of the earliest works, Lipstick, Three-Way Plug and Clothespin, all works listed are signed by both artists. Unless specified, dimensions are listed as height × width × depth.

Images may be missing from this list, due to no freedom of panorama provisions for copyrighted three-dimensional artworks in the copyright laws of countries where the affected artworks are located.

Image Title Description Year Location Ref
Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks Cor-Ten steel, steel, aluminum, cast resin; painted with polyurethane enamel
23 ft 6 in × 24 ft 11 in × 10 ft 11 in (7.16 m × 7.6 m × 3.32 m)
1969–74 Samuel F. B. Morse College at Yale University, New Haven, U.S.
41°18′46″N 72°55′48″W / 41.31291500°N 72.93009800°W / 41.31291500; -72.93009800
[1]
Giant Three-Way Plug Core-Ten steel and bronze
5 ft 1 in × 6 ft 6 in × 10 ft 0 in (155 cm × 198 cm × 306 cm)
1970 Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Ohio, U.S.
41°17′35″N 82°13′00″W / 41.293164°N 82.216803°W / 41.293164; -82.216803
[2]
Giant Three-Way Plug
(Cube Tap)
Core-Ten steel and bronze
9 ft 9.0 in × 6 ft 6.0 in × 4 ft 10.0 in (297.2 cm × 198.1 cm × 147.3 cm)
1970 d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, U.S.
39°58′01″N 75°10′55″W / 39.966929°N 75.181950°W / 39.966929; -75.181950
[3]
Clothespin Cor-Ten and stainless steel
45 ft. x 12 ft. 3 in. x 4 ft. 6 in. (13.7 x 3.7 x 1.4 m)
1976 Centre Square Plaza, Philadelphia, U.S.
39°57′09″N 75°09′56″W / 39.9524°N 75.1656°W / 39.9524; -75.1656
[4]
Trowel I Steel painted with polyurethane enamel
41 ft 9 in × 11 ft 3 in × 14 ft 7 in (12.73 m × 3.43 m × 4.44 m)
Installed: 38 ft 5 in × 11 ft 3 in × 7 ft 5 in (11.71 m × 3.43 m × 2.26 m)
1971 Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo, Netherlands [5]
Trowel II Cor-Ten steel painted with polyurethane enamel
41 ft 9 in × 11 ft 3 in × 14 ft 7 in (12.73 m × 3.43 m × 4.45 m)
Installed: 37 ft 0 in × 11 ft 3 in × 7 ft 5 in (11.28 m × 3.43 m × 2.26 m)
1971–76 Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo, Purchase, U.S. [6]
Batcolumn Steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
96 feet 8 inches (29.46 m) high × 9 feet 9 inches (2.97 m) diameter,
on base 4 feet (1.2 m) high × 10 feet (3.0 m)
1977 Harold Washington Social Security Center, Chicago, U.S. [7]
Pool Balls Reinforced concrete
Three 11 ft. 6 in. (3.5 m) diameter
1977 Lake Aasee waterfront, Münster, Germany [8]
Crusoe Umbrella Cor-Ten steel painted with polyurethane enamel
37 × 37 × 58 ft. (11.3 × 11.3 × 17.7 m)
Installed: 33 × 37 × 56 ft. (10.1 × 11.3 × 17.1 m)
1979 Cowles Commons, Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. [9]
Flashlight Steel painted with polyurethane enamel
38 ft. 6 in. (11.7 m) high × 10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m) diameter
1981 University of Nevada, Las Vegas, U.S. [10]
Split Button Aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
16 ft. (4.9 m) diameter × 10 in. (0.3 m) thick
height from ground when sited: 4 ft. 11 in. (1.5 m)
1981 Blanche Levy Park, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S. [11]
Hat in Three Stages of Landing Steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
Three hats, each 9 ft. 5 in. × 18 ft. × 15 ft. 5 in. (2.9 × 5.5 × 4.7 m)
Each hat is supported on two poles at a different height, equidistant, over an area approximately 162 ft. (49.4 m) long:
19 ft. 3 in. (5.9 m) high
12 ft. 10 in. (3.9 m) high
6 ft. 1 in. (1.9 m) high
1982 Sherwood Park, Salinas, U.S. [12]
Spitzhacke
(Pickaxe)
Steel painted with polyurethane enamel
36 ft. 9 in. × 44 ft. 6 in. × 3 ft. 8 in. (11.2 × 13.6 × 1.1 m)
Installed: 43 ft. 5 in. × 42 ft. 7 in. × 11 ft. 5 in. (13.2 × 13 × 3.5 m)
1982 Kassel, Germany [13]
Gartenschlauch
(Garden Hose)
Steel painted with polyurethane enamel
Two parts, in an area approximately 6,000 sq. ft. (557.4 sq. m)
Faucet: 35 ft. 5 in. × 8 ft. 12 in. × 7 ft. 1 in. (10.8 × 2.7 × 2.2 m)
Hose: 410 ft. (125 m) long × 20 in. (0.5 m) diameter
1983 Eschholzpark, Freiburg, Germany [14]
Screwarch Aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
12 ft. 8 in. × 21 ft. 6 in. × 7 ft. 10 in. (3.9 × 6.6 × 2.4 m)
1983 Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands [15]
Cross Section of a Toothbrush with Paste, in a Cup, on a Sink: Portrait of Coosje's Thinking Steel and cast iron painted with polyurethane enamel
19 ft. 8 in. × 9 ft. 2 in. × 7 in. (6 × 2.8 × 0.2 m)
1983 Haus Esters, Krefeld, Germany [16]
Stake Hitch Stake: steel, aluminum, epoxy, painted with polyurethane enamel
Rope: polyurethane foam, plastic materials, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with latex
Total height: 53 ft. 6 in. (16.3 m)
Stake with knot, upper floor: 13 ft. 6 in. × 18 ft. 2 in. × 14 ft. 7 in. (4.1 × 5.5 × 4.5 m)
Stake, lower floor: 12 ft. 10 in. × 5 ft. × 3 ft. (3.9 × 1.5 × 0.9 m)
Rope, knot to ceiling: 40 ft. (12.2 m) high × 20 in. (0.5 m) diameter
1984 Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, U.S. [17]
Balancing Tools Steel painted with polyurethane enamel
26 ft. 3 in. × 29 ft. 6 in. × 19 ft. 10 in. (8 × 9 × 6.1 m)
1984 Vitra International, Weil am Rhein, Germany [18]
Knife Ship I Steel, wood, plastic coated fabric, motor
Closed, without oars: 7 ft. 8 in. × 10 ft. 6 in. × 40 ft. 5 in. (2.3 × 3.2 × 12.3 m)
Extended, with oars: 26 ft. 4 in. × 31 ft. 6 in. × 82 ft. 11 in. (8 × 9.6 × 25.3 m)
Height with large blade raised: 31 ft. 8 in. (9.7 m)
Width with blades extended: 82 ft. 10 in. (25.2 m)
1985 Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain [19]
Knife Slicing Through Wall Stainless steel, steel, stucco
Blade: 6 ft × 8 in × 11 ft (1.83 × .20 × 3.51 m)
1989 817 Hillsdale Ave., Los Angeles, U.S. (formerly the Margo Leavin Gallery) [20]
Toppling Ladder with Spilling Paint Steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
14 ft. 2 in. × 10 ft. 8 in. × 7 ft. 7 in. (4.3 × 3.3 × 2.3 m)
1986 Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, U.S. [21]
Spoonbridge and Cherry Stainless steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
29 ft. 6 in. × 51 ft. 6 in. × 13 ft. 6 in. (9 × 15.7 × 4.1 m)
1988 Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, U.S. [22]
Dropped Bowl with Scattered Slices and Peels Steel, reinforced concrete, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with polyurethane enamel; stainless steel
Seventeen parts (eight bowl fragments, four peels, five orange sections), in an area approximately 16 ft. 9 in. × 91 ft. × 105 ft. (5.1 × 27.7 × 32 m)
1990 Metro-Dade Open Space Park, Miami, U.S. [23]
La Bicyclette Ensevelie
(Buried Bicycle)
Steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with polyurethane enamel
Four parts, in an area approximately 150 ft. 11 in. × 71 ft. 2 in. (46 × 21.7 m)
1990 Parc de la Villette, Paris, France [24]
Monument to the Last Horse Aluminum and polyurethane foam painted with polyurethane enamel
19 ft. 8 in. × 17 ft. × 12 ft. 4 in. (6 × 5.2 × 3.8 m)
1991 The Chinati Foundation, Marfa, U.S. [25]
Binoculars Steel frame. Exterior: concrete and cement plaster painted with elastomeric paint.
Interior: gypsum plaster 45 × 44 × 18 ft. (13.7 × 13.4 × 5.5 m)
1991 340 Main Street, Venice, U.S. [26]
Free Stamp Steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
28 ft. 10 in. × 26 ft. × 49 ft. (8.8 × 7.9 × 14.9 m)
1991 Willard Park, Cleveland, U.S. [27]
Mistos
(Match Cover)
Steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with polyurethane enamel
Overall: 68 ft. × 33 ft. × 43 ft. 4 in. (20.7 × 10.1 × 13.2 m)
1992 La Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain [28]
Apple Core Stainless steel, urethane foam, resin, urethane enamel
3m x 2m x 2m
1992 The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel [29]
Bottle of Notes Steel painted with polyurethane enamel
30 × 16 × 10 ft. (9.1 × 4.9 × 3.1 m)
1993 Central Gardens, Middlesbrough, England [30]
Inverted Collar and Tie Steel, polymer concrete, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with polyester gelcoat
39 ft. × 27 ft. 9 in. × 12 ft. 8 in. (11.9 × 8.5 × 3.9 m)
1994 Mainzer Landstrasse, Frankfurt am Main, Germany [31]
Shuttlecocks Aluminum and fiber-reinforced plastic painted with polyurethane enamel
Four shuttlecocks, each 17 ft. 11 in. (5.5 m) high × 15 ft. 1 in. (4.6 m) crown diameter and 4 ft. (1.2 m) nose diameter
1994 Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, U.S. [32]
Soft Shuttlecock Steel, aluminum, wood, fiber-reinforced plastic, expanded polystyrene and polyethylene foams, canvas, rope; painted with latex
Nosecone, approximately 3 ft. high (0.9 m) × 6 ft. (1.8 m) diameter
Nine feathers, each approximately 26 ft. (7.9 m) long × 6 ft. 6 in. (2 m) wide
1995 Guggenheim Museum, New York, U.S. [33]
Houseball Stainless steel, fiber-reinforced plastic, jute netting, urethane and polyvinylchloride foams; painted with polyester gelcoat
27 ft. 6 in. (8.4 m) high × 24 ft. 4 in. (7.4 m) diameter
1996 Bethlehemkirch-Platz, Berlin, Germany [34]
Saw, Sawing Steel, epoxy resin, fiber-reinforced plastic, urethane and polyvinylchloride foams; painted with polyester gelcoat
50 ft. 8 in. × 4 ft. 9 in. × 40 ft. (15.4 × 1.5 × 12.2 m)
1996 Tokyo International Exhibition Center, Tokyo, Japan [35]
Torn Notebook Stainless steel, steel, aluminum; painted with polyurethane enamel
Three parts (notebook and two loose pages)
Notebook: 21 ft. 10 in. × 23 ft. × 26 ft. 1 in. (6.7 × 6.4 × 8 m)
Page (1): 10 ft. × 14 ft. 1 in. × 7 ft. 1 in. (3.0 × 4.3 × 2.2 m)
Page (2): 11 ft. 8 in. × 8 ft. 7 in. × 8 ft. 2 in. (3.6 × 2.6 × 2.5 m)
1996 Madden Garden, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, U.S. [36]
Typewriter Eraser, Scale X Stainless steel and fiberglass
19 ft. 9 1/4 in. x 12 ft. 8 1/2 in. x 11 ft. 4 in. (6.026 x 3.874 x 3.454 m)
1999 National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C., U.S.
Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park
CityCenter, Paradise, Nevada
[37]
Lion's Tail Stainless steel, aluminum, wood, fiber-reinforced plastic, expanded polystyrene, painted with urethane enamel; nylon
18 ft. 6 in. × 15 ft. × 4 ft. (5.6 × 4.6 × 1.2 m)
1999 Musei Civici Veneziani, Venice, Italy [38]
Ago, Filo e Nodo
(Needle, Thread and Knot)
Brushed stainless steel and fiber-reinforced plastic painted with polyester gelcoat and polyurethane enamel
Needle and thread: 59 ft. (18 m) high × 50 3/8 in. (128 cm) diameter
Knot: 19 ft. (5.8 m) long × 19 11/16 in. (50 cm) diameter
2000 Piazzale Cadorna, Milan, Italy
45°28′5.24″N 9°10′35.87″E / 45.4681222°N 9.1766306°E / 45.4681222; 9.1766306
[39]
Flying Pins Steel, fiber-reinforced plastic, foam, epoxy; painted with polyester gelcoat and polyurethane enamel
Ten pins, each: 24 ft. 7 in. (7.5 m) high × 7 ft. 7 in. (2.3 m) widest diameter in an area approximately 123 ft. (37.5 m) long × 65 ft. 7 in. (20 m) wide
Ball: 9 ft. 2 in. (2.8 m) high × 21 ft. 12 in. (6.7 m) diameter
2000 Intersection of John F. Kennedylaan and Fellenoord Avenues, Eindhoven, Netherlands [40]
Dropped Cone Stainless and galvanized steels, fiber-reinforced plastic, balsawood; painted with polyester gelcoat
39 ft. 10 in. (12.1 m) high × 19 ft. (5.8 m) diameter
2001 Neumarkt Galerie, Cologne, Germany [41]
Cupid's Span Stainless steel, structural carbon steel, fiber-reinforced plastic, cast epoxy, polyvinylchloride foam; painted with polyester gelcoat 60 ft. (18.3 m) high 2002 Rincon Park, San Francisco, U.S. [42]
Big Sweep Stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with polyurethane enamel
31 ft. 4 in. × 25 ft. 4 in. × 15 ft. 1 in. (9.6 × 7.7 × 4.6 m)
2006 Denver Art Museum, Denver, U.S. [43]
Spring Steel, cast aluminum, aluminum; painted with acrylic polyurethane
70 ft. (21.3 m) high × 18 ft. (5.5 m) diameter at base of sculpture
2006 Cheonggyecheon, Seoul, South Korea [44]
Tumbling Tacks Steel, fiberglass, resin, polyurethane foam, gelcoat and transparent satined glass coating
Four tacks, each 18 ft. (5.5 m) in diameter
2009 Kistefos Museum, Kistefos, Norway [45]
Paint Torch Steel, fiberglass reinforced plastic, gelcoat, polyurethane, LED lighting
Height from ground: 50 ft. 11 in.; Total length of work: 53 ft. 9/16 in.
2011 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, U.S. [46]