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Exploring art outside is one of the easiest ways to spark curiosity in kids — and downtown Milwaukee has several bold, permanent sculptures that are fun, accessible, and easy to visit as a family. Every year, Sculpture Milwaukee also installs new temporary pieces along Wisconsin Avenue and around downtown, giving families something different to see on every visit.
Here’s a simple, kid-friendly route featuring the four major permanent sculptures, plus tips on how to explore the rotating works without needing a formal tour.
Start at O’Donnell Park
1. The Calling
Artist: Mark di Suvero
Location: O’Donnell Park, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave.
The bright orange, 40-foot sculpture known as The Calling is one of Milwaukee’s most iconic landmarks — and the easiest place to begin your walk. Kids love standing underneath and looking up at the huge beams, and it’s a great open space for roaming and picture-taking.
Fun Fact:
The Calling faces Lake Michigan and aligns directly with the “wings” of the Milwaukee Art Museum. When the museum opens its wings, it creates a perfect visual connection between two of the city’s most iconic outdoor artworks.
Kid-Friendly Tip:
If you’re nearby at noon, walk toward the Art Museum and watch the wings “flap.” They open in the morning, flap again at midday, and close in the evening — a moving sculpture all its own.
2. Sky/Stairs
Artist: Geoffrey Hendricks
Location: Stairs leading from O’Donnell Park toward the bridge to the lakefront
This whimsical vinyl installation transforms an ordinary staircase into a bright blue sky filled with white, puffy clouds. Kids often stop to count the clouds or race up and down the “sky steps.” It’s permanent, cheerful, and one of the easiest pieces for little ones to engage with.
Walk Toward the Milwaukee Art Museum
From The Calling, follow the path toward the Art Museum. This area is wide-open, stroller-friendly, and far from busy traffic.
2. Monumental Holistic III
Artist: Betty Gold
Location: Outside the Milwaukee Art Museum
This welded-steel sculpture by Betty Gold features bold geometric shapes and angles that kids love to explore visually. It has been a fixture on the Art Museum grounds for decades and is one of the most recognizable permanent outdoor artworks downtown.
3. LOVE Sculpture
Artist: Robert Indiana
Location: Milwaukee Art Museum Grounds
This classic block-style LOVE sculpture has become a permanent installation overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s an easy, iconic photo spot and a guaranteed kid-pleaser.
Don’t Miss the Wing Flap!
If your walk brings you near the Art Museum around 12:00 p.m., look up — the Burke Brise Soleil opens and flaps like giant wings. Many families plan their route so this moment is part of the adventure.
Where to Find the Rotating Sculptures
In addition to these permanent works, downtown Milwaukee hosts a new collection of sculptures each year as part of Sculpture Milwaukee. These pieces change regularly and are spread throughout:
- Wisconsin Avenue
- Cathedral Square
- O’Donnell Park area
- Near the Milwaukee Art Museum
- Various downtown intersections and plazas
Because these works rotate and sometimes move without notice, the most accurate and up-to-date way to see what’s currently installed is by using their interactive map:
👉 Check the Sculpture Milwaukee Map for Current Installations
Tips for Exploring with Kids
- Start at O’Donnell Park to avoid traffic-heavy areas.
- Bring snacks and water — there are benches and open spaces along the route.
- Early mornings or evenings offer the best light and calmest atmosphere.
- Park in the O’Donnell Park garage for easy access to all three permanent pieces.
- Let kids pick 2–3 “favorite sculptures” as you explore the rotating pieces on the map.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
