On display The power of public art

“Crocodile Dandy,” a bronze steel sculpture created by Bill Bond in 1998, can be found at the transit stop near the intersection of East Middlefield Road and Ellis Street in Mountain View. DAI SUGANO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Hannah Myung, 4, from Santa Clara, plays on Gary Price’s sculpture titled “Circle of Peace” outside of the Central Park Library in Santa Clara on on March 19. NHAT V. MEYER — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Lupe the Mammoth,” by artists Freya Bardell and Brian Howe, stands along the Guadalupe River in San Jose. Made of galvanized steel, it depicts a 12.5-foot juvenile mammoth which was found at that spot. NHAT V. MEYER — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Color Face” by Wanxin Zhang is on display at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga. This work was part of a Color Face series which started in 2007 and references Chinese opera performances. SHAE HAMMOND — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Albuquerque,” a large welded steel sculpture created by Gale Wagner in 1982, can be found at the lawn of Palo Alto Art Center in Palo Alto. Wagner is a founding member of the Pacific Rim Sculptors group. DAI SUGANO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“The Orb,” designed and computated by artist Marc Fornes, is on display at Google’s Charleston East Campus in Mountain View. The orb is constructed of ultra-thin aluminum and stands 33 feet high. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Pedestrians walk past Gordon Huether’s 13-foot tall “Hubcap” artwork outside the County Garage in downtown Redwood City. Completed in 2021, the piece contains 1,000 chrome hubcaps. KARL MONDON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Fun and fantastic works of public art abound in the Bay Area, which is blessed with an abundance of creative talent. Stroll around and you’ll find pieces ranging from silly to stunning, from retro to futuristic. Here are some of our favorite artworks in the South Bay.