Picasso’s statue

The Picasso statue, the steel enigma of Daley Plaza

Right in the centre of Chicago, on Daley Plaza, stands a monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso, several metres tall. An open-air work of art accessible to all, it was the first of a long series that made Chicago a city of public art. The Chicago audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this enigmatic work and its pioneering role.

A monumental work from 1967

Erected in 1967, the steel sculpture is a work by Pablo Picasso, who never gave it a name. Its form, open to interpretation, has intrigued since its creation: a woman's head, a bird or an animal, everyone sees what they want. Several metres tall and weighing many tonnes, it inaugurated the tradition of great public artworks that now punctuate the centre of Chicago.

What to see

The sculpture stands at the centre of Daley Plaza, a lively civic square lined with official buildings. Its abstract form invites everyone to project their own interpretation, and children love to climb on its sloping base. It is a meeting point and a symbol of art accessible to all, a stone's throw from the other works and monuments of the Loop.

Practical information

The Picasso statue lies on Daley Plaza, in the Loop, in the centre of Chicago, reachable on foot and by metro. It is an open-air work, freely accessible at all times, with no ticket office. On the level on the square, it is easy to access and is discovered during a walk in the centre.

Who created the Picasso statue in Chicago?

It is the work of Pablo Picasso, erected in 1967 on Daley Plaza; the artist never gave it a name, leaving its form open to interpretation.

What does the Picasso statue represent?

Its abstract form remains enigmatic: a woman's head, a bird or an animal, everyone sees what they want, which is part of the work's charm.