Public Art

Art on the Commons is a selection of sculptures hosted on Lakewood’s Civic Center Plaza and other prominent locations such as the Colfax Sculpture Walk.

2024-2025 sculptures included:

Bobbi Rubingh: 3 Red Gongs
Colin Parson: Interference Tower
Evan Beloni: Swiss Block
Gary Manuel: Caliper
Maureen Hearty: Refuge
Reven Marie Swanson: Dancing Moon Velocity 

Art on the Commons and Colfax Sculpture Walk

Six sculptures are selected for display in Lakewood’s City Commons and three are chosen for the Sculpture walk at Colfax Ave. and Wadsworth Blvd. Artists whose sculptures are selected for this exhibit will receive a $1000 honorarium and will be eligible for a People’s Choice Award of $500. Sculptures are installed in fall and remain on display for one year.  This program is currently on hold.

Specifications: 

Any style in a durable medium will be considered but submitted artwork must be complete and ready for installation, structurally safe, and able to withstand Colorado’s weather. Sculpture must be a minimum of 40 inches in height, no taller than 120 inches, and should not exceed maximum base dimensions of 36” x 54 inches. Pedestals are permanent and provided by the City of Lakewood. Each submission must be capable of being welded or securely fastened to a ¼-inch steel plate. The curator, prior to installation, must approve any base provided by the artist.  

Contact: Arts Programming Curator, Laine Godsey at LaiGod@Lakewood.org

Sponsors

The artwork is sponsored by the Alameda Connects, Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District and the SCFD.

Public Art Plan

The creation of a Public Art Plan involves collaboration between City staff, community organizations, business associations, property and business owners and managers, residents, and other stakeholders. The planning process involves working with these stakeholders to identify a vision and future direction for public art in Lakewood and to establish goals and action steps to implement the vision. A stakeholder steering committee guides the development of the plan. Public meetings and a community survey provides additional opportunities for community input.

A Public Art Plan was approved by City Council on July 8, 2013 and updated in March 2025.

View the 2013 Plan(PDF, 3MB)

*If you need an accessible copy of the 2013 plan, please contact adacoordinator@lakewood.org.

View the 2025 Public Art Plan

The posted 2025 plan is digitally accessible.

Arts and culture are essential and integral to Lakewood. Since the public art program’s inception in 1995, more than 50 permanent works of art have been installed across the City of Lakewood, while also annually exhibiting temporary sculpture through the Art on the Commons program. Lakewood continues to recognize the positive role of visual arts and the value of public art for the community.

Follow this map to discover public art throughout Lakewood.

Please note, specific art pieces may be temporarily moved due to maintenance or changing conditions.

Samples of public art:

 

   

The City of Lakewood and the Heritage, Culture & the Arts Division are pleased to announce the completion of the public art project in celebration of Lakewood’s 50th Anniversary in 2019.

“Echoes and Reflections: Lakewood’s 50th Anniversary,” a large-scale installation of reflective metal sculptures by artist Collin Parson, stands at a site of historical significance in Addenbrooke Park for the community to enjoy. This public artwork celebrates Lakewood’s unique history and diverse residents, those that laid the foundation for incorporation and paved the way for the city’s robust cultural community that exists today. 

The selection process

A request for proposals was sent on July 16, 2018, which resulted in responses from artists from across the United States. After an extensive review process, including an online public voting platform and a public art selection panel, Lakewood’s public art committee selected Parson’s proposal. The artist’s passion for the project comes from his deep connection with Lakewood. Parson is a local arts administrator, artist, curator and designer who was raised in Lakewood and has enjoyed Addenbrooke Park throughout his childhood and as an adult with his wife and child. 

Combining history with art

The new artwork is installed on the site where the Addenbrooke family home, constructed in 1953, once stood near the corner of South Garrison Street and West Center Avenue. The home’s fireplace, which remains standing, includes stones collected from around the world by the Addenbrooke family. Parson’s artwork is inspired by the sense of inclusion and place metaphorically exemplified by this historical landmark.

“Echoes and Reflections” incorporates mirrored stainless steel in shapes that mimic the structure of the former home. “I hope to reflect the past and the present by recreating the echoes or fragments of the homestead, such as doors, corners and windows, that once stood as the Addenbrooke family home. By using mirror polished stainless steel, these elements would pay homage to the past, yet literally reflect the current environment and all the people who occupy it now and in the future,” said Parson.

Learn more and read a Q&A with the artist(, 0B)

40 West ArtLine Overview

40 West ArtLine Framework Plan

The West Colfax Sculpture Walk is open! This community build project revitalized the southwest corner of Wadsworth and Colfax.

Community build weekends took place in June and July, and sculpture installation took place the first week of August. Our appreciation goes out to our community build volunteers, who assisted the project team build and plant in the sculpture walk.

Go Inside the Project

A highly visible, vacant parcel of land on the southwest corner of Wadsworth Blvd. and Colfax Ave. will be revitalized into a beautiful sculpture walk showcasing public art in 2022. This placemaking idea was born out of a partnership between the West Colfax Community Association and Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District (BID). These partners submitted a concept to the city through the Neighborhood Participation Program (NPP). This program encourages neighborhood organizations to apply for funding to build projects they believe would make a difference in improving their neighborhood.  

City Council and staff supported the concept and approved NPP funding for the project in 2019. the West Colfax Community Association and the Lakewood-West Colfax BID have contributed donations to the development of this unique space.  

Learn about the long, rich history of this intersection and the plan to revitalize it by watching this video:

The West Colfax Sculpture Walk transformed an empty, dirt-filled corner lot into an urban oasis for pedestrians and a showcase for public art.

In addition to funding from the City of Lakewood and partners, this project required additional support through generous sponsors contributing donations and in-kind services, as well as volunteers donating their time via a community build.

The following information provides the framework and timing for the project. 

Major Elements of the Sculpture Walk

1. Six raised planters constructed using ‘gabion’ construction techniques, which are essentially wire cages filled with rocks. Gabions have a long history of use, creating durable and inexpensive structures with great versatility. 
2. Three round gabions with steel platforms for sculptures. 
3. One large ‘tree sculpture’ permanently placed in a central gabion structure.
4. Large boulders for seating.
5. Two light poles with LED fixtures to light sculptures and provide security.
6. Crushed granite ground surface.
7. Water hydrant and hose in lockable enclosure to water plants.

Construction

Construction of the sculpture walk will be completed in several phases. The city will initially hire contractors to prepare the site for the installation of gabion planters and sculpture pads.

Community Build 

There are multiple benefits to the community of executing this project through a community build. A community-build project becomes a rallying point for community spirit and a team-building opportunity for groups. It encourages citizens of varying ages, economic backgrounds, genders, races and cultures to work in unison toward a common goal.

Community Build Schedule

The community build portion of the project will take place over the course of several weekends in June and July. The first weekend will follow completion of site preparation and installation of underground utilities by outside contractors. The second weekend will take place after outside contractors install soil in planters. 

Maintenance

Ongoing maintenance of the West Colfax Sculpture Walk will be provided by the West Colfax Community Association, the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District and neighborhood volunteers.

Thanks to our sponsors