Sculpture Walk Peoria Enhances Warehouse District

Bring new life to a blighted neighborhood with trendy condos or apartments. Add craft breweries and restaurants. To complete the effort, install public art. We love the revitalization efforts we’re seeing throughout Midwest cities, including the Warehouse District in Peoria, Illinois. Once a deteriorating neighborhood, today developers can’t convert old warehouses to apartment buildings quickly enough. In the evenings, crowds gather at craft breweries. And Sculpture Walk Peoria adds an artistic touch to the once-again bustling Warehouse District just southwest of downtown Peoria.

Thank you to the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for hosting our Peoria visit. This article may contain an affiliate link. Read about affiliates in our Privacy Policy.

Sculpture Walk Peoria Features Local Artists

Each year new sculptures, most created by Midwest artists, make up Sculpture Walk Peoria. Sculpture Walk Peoria is an initiative of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois. In 2017, sixteen sculptures dotted Washington Street through the Warehouse District. In 2018, those sculptures are replaced by eight new ones. Some permanent sculptures, including one of comedian Richard Pryor, are also on exhibit along Washington Street. You can spend a few hours wandering up and down the street reading about and admiring the art.

Richard Pryor sculpture Peoria
“Richard Pryor—More Than Just a Comedian” by Preston Jackson. The late comedian was born and raised in Peoria

All of the Sculpture Walk Peoria artworks are for sale. Prices are listed on the Sculpture Walk website, along with a description of the art and the artist’s contact information.

Below are a few photos of the 2017 sculptures to give you an idea of the types of art pieces you’ll see on the tour

Warehouse District Sculpture Walk Peoria 2017 1
From left: “The Pedestrian” by Patricia Whalen Keck, Peoria IL; “Intergalactic Subatomic Particle Enhancer—ISPE” by Doug Gruizenga, Interlochen MI; “Hesitant” by Ben Pierce, Cape Girardeau MO

Sculpture Walk Peoria 2017 - Warehouse DistrictFrom left: “Fire Birds” by Michael Young, Chicago IL; “Angles, Shadows Reaching” by Bill McGrath, Batavia IL; “Time Passes” by David Zahn, Moline IL

Wired Stag sculpture 2017 Sculpture Walk Peoria
“Wired Stag” by Jeff Best, Clare, Michigan, won the 2017 Sculpture Walk Peoria People’s Choice Award

Guided Sculpture Walk Peoria tours

Prefer a guided tour? Free Sculpture Walk Peoria guided tours are available every Saturday at 10 a.m. and noon. Tours leave from the Peoria Riverfront Museum lobby, located at 222 SW Washington Street.

Take a break for a drink or a meal.

During our visit, we dined at Thyme Kitchen + Craft Beer, which you can read about here.

Accommodations

We stayed at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria on our most recent Peoria visit. Check rates and reviews on TripAdvisor

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Sculpture Walk Peoria

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4 thoughts on “Sculpture Walk Peoria Enhances Warehouse District

  • June 28, 2018 at 12:53 pm
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    We’ve seen the difference sculptures have made in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City, SD. If you haven’t seen them, I hope you get the chance. Public art really is helping revitalize what were once dirty, crime-ridden neighborhoods. Loved what they’ve done in Chicago!

    Reply
    • June 28, 2018 at 4:52 pm
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      I’ve seen the presidents in Rapid City, Penny, but I haven’t been to Sioux Falls yet. It’s on my list! Yes, Chicago has done a fabulous job, too. I believe the cows started the public art phenomenon in the U.S. where people paint all the same statue and later they’re auctioned off.

      Reply
  • May 15, 2019 at 8:42 pm
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    We would love to have you come back some time this year and let us know what you think of the 2019 Walk! We’ve added another piece bringing the total to: 9 NEW pieces of large scale art to be installed on May 17, 2019 that will be up until next year. The Kottemann Family Opening Day is May 18, 2019 at 9AM on the Peoria Riverfront Museum Sun Plaza. Since you posted photos of Pedestrian and Wired Stag – let us share that both were purchased from the Walk and now remain in Peoria permanently. In total, 11 sculptures from 4 Walks have been sold and remain in the area. The Peoria Riverfront Museum has also added two additional large scale pieces in their sculpture garden. Hope to see you soon!

    Reply
    • May 17, 2019 at 10:46 am
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      Thanks for the information on the 2019 Sculpture Walk Peoria, Lynette. I sent you an email message in reply.

      Reply

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