8 Best Breckenridge Outdoor Sculptures and Art
An Artistic Way to Enjoy Breck
Breckenridge is often known as a wintertime destination for skiers and boarders, but there’s something a little more artistic about this small mountain town than most people would expect. Not only is Breck filled with tons of art galleries to explore, there’s also a ton of outdoor sculptures and art to see in the downtown area and beyond.
Not sure where to start with Breck’s outdoor art? We’ve created this guide just for you. Today, we’ll break down our top 8 favorite outdoor sculptures in Breckenridge to help you create your own self-guided art tour of this artsy little town.
#1: Isak Heartstone
No list of Breck’s outdoor art would be complete without mentioning the iconic Isak Heartstone. This 15-foot sculpture was masterminded by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who has built many similar trolls around the world using recycled materials, and it is considered a landmark by many in Breck.
How to find Isak Heartstone: To find this sculpture, follow the Trollstigen Trailhead, which can be found just southeast of the parking lot for the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, near the Illinois Gulch Trailhead.
#2: Syncline
Albert Paley is a world-renowned sculptor whose art has appeared in the Smithsonian, and he bestowed his creative gifts to the town of Breckenridge in the form of Syncline, a 24-foot contemporary abstract sculpture. It is meant to represent the shape that it is named after, the syncline, which is a geological formation that is formed in a strange upward convex way, and takes inspiration from the folds and curves of the mountains that surround it.
How to find Syncline: This sculpture is located in the Riverwalk Center Plaza, right on the Blue River Bikeway.
#3: Toro
Sustainable artist Fred Zeitz created our next sculpture, Toro, to explore the future of creativity in Breckenridge, and this futuristic robot sure does the trick. Made from all-recycled materials, Toro was donated by the partners from Downstairs at Erics, and its central location means that tons of visitors get to enjoy it each day.
How to find Toro: This sculpture is located along the Riverwalk, just behind 137 S. Main Street.
#4: Throne
Our next sculpture has a fun backstory–it was inspired by Breckenridge’s 1936 (joke) decision to declare itself a kingdom after it was made known that the town had been left off the US map even though it had been founded back in 1859. Throne, which was commissioned by the town of Breck and created by artist Chaz della Porta in 2014, features a boulder with a seat that is topped by a gorgeous kinetic steel sculpture. This kinetic structure features stained glass shields that move with the wind and reflect the light.
How to find Throne: This sculpture is located on the Breckenridge Arts District Campus, at South Ridge Street and East Washington Avenue.
#5: Prowlin’
Another sculpture with a great backstory is Prowlin’, which was created by artist Parker McDonald and installed in 2016. While the Breckenridge Arts District Campus was being built, there was a family of red foxes (a common sight in Breck) that became a bit of a campus mascot, and so this sculpture was installed in honor of them.
How to find Prowlin’: This sculpture is located in front of the Fuqua Livery Stable, which can be found at 110 East Washington Avenue.
#6: Just the Two of Us
Artist Guilloume created this next sculpture, Just the Two of Us, a cast-bronze piece that symbolizes partnership between people and uses a beautiful, semi-abstract style that almost looks like it is melting. It was donated to the space in 2015 by Judy and John Goebel, who decided to give the sculpture to the newly-built community center to give the space a piece of art that would draw in and attract visitors.
How to find Just the Two of Us: This sculpture is located near the entrance to the Speakeasy Theater, by the Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center.
#7: Ullr
You may have heard of Ullr before–he is the Norse god of winter and is often known as the skiing god as well, and he has a whole festival named after him that Breck puts on each year. To honor this heralded figure in Breck, artist Richard A. Jagoda (who was also one of the first ski instructors in the area) fabricated Ullr from steel.
How to find Ullr: This sculpture is located at 500 South Park Avenue.
#8: Kachina Steel
Kachina dolls are dolls that the Navajo tribe used to represent spirits, and Mohawk artist Jack Hill was inspired by these dolls to create the last item on our list, Kachina Steel. This huge sculpture, which was donated by Susie and Rick Grossman to the Breckenridge collection of public art, depicts a large stone and steel kachina doll that is holding a feather in one hand and a hawk in the other.
How to find Kachina Steel: This sculpture is located near the Breckenridge Recreation Center, on the bike trail.
There’s Tons More to See and Taste in Breckenridge
Touring Breckenridge’s public art collection is one of the best ways to fill a sunny day while you’re spending time in town, and we hope you get to see some of the items on our list of favorites. By the time you’re done, not only will you have a better idea of Breck’s local color and character, you’ll also have worked up an appetite. While you’re in Breck, be sure to check out our list of some of the best places to eat in Breckenridge.