Which 1967 public sculpture by Pablo Picasso stands outside Chicago’s Daley Plaza?

Pablo Picasso’s 1967 public sculpture Chicago Picasso stands outside Chicago’s Daley Plaza.

The untitled work is commonly called the Chicago Picasso. It was commissioned for the Civic Center Plaza, now Daley Plaza, and unveiled on August 15, 1967. Picasso donated the design to the city, while the steel construction was carried out by the American Bridge Company.

The sculpture is about 50 feet tall and weighs roughly 162 tons. Its abstract, angular form has been interpreted in many ways, including as a bird, horse, woman, or baboon, but Picasso did not publicly assign it a single subject. Its ambiguity helped make it an influential example of modern public art.

Chicago’s sculpture was among the first major monumental works by a globally famous modern artist installed in an American city center. It is now a familiar gathering place, with its base used for public events and performances.