You don’t have to visit a museum to have a genuine art experience in Central Florida. From the sun-soaked streets of downtown Orlando to the charming corridors of Kissimmee and Winter Park, the region is bursting with public art that surprises, delights, and invites you to stop and look twice. Here are ten installations worth seeking out — and yes, most of them are completely free.
1. See Art Orlando — Downtown Orlando
Unveiled in 2013, See Art Orlando is a permanent installation of nine contemporary public-art sculptures scattered throughout the downtown area, supported by private philanthropy. It’s a perfect self-guided walking tour — each piece tells its own story against the backdrop of the city skyline.
2. The Art of the Heart — City Commons Plaza
A 14-foot-tall heart anchors City Commons Plaza — bright red by day and glowing neon at night — surrounded by 50 smaller neon hearts nestled among the flower beds. It’s one of those installations that makes you want to linger long after the photo is taken.
3. Lake Nona Sculpture Garden — Lake Nona
This 50,000-square-foot outdoor space adjacent to the Lake Nona Wave Hotel features lush landscaping and a collection of world-renowned sculptures — including Arturo di Modica’s iconic Charging Bull. Equal parts art gallery and peaceful evening stroll.
4. Mills 50 Murals — Mills 50 District
The Mills 50 district is home to nearly 50 distinctive, large-scale murals — more than any other city district in Orlando — along with painted art boxes, dumpsters, and storm drains. Around every corner is something new.
5. Greetings from Orlando Mural — Downtown Orlando
Created in 2016, this iconic postcard-style mural packs Lake Eola, Epcot, the Orlando Magic, the Milk District, and a tribute to the citrus industry into its bold oversized letters — and if you look closely, the artists painted themselves into a swan boat.
6. Tranquility Tree — Kissimmee
This serene mural in soft blues and greens is activated by augmented reality, allowing viewers to experience 3D animations and immersive soundscapes layered over the painted surface — a collaboration between Osceola Arts, Snap City Unseen, and the City of Kissimmee.
7. Greetings from Kissimmee — Downtown Kissimmee
Artist RicOne’s bold postcard-style mural on Monument Avenue reimagines each letter as a window into Kissimmee’s landmarks, local culture, and community spirit — turning a simple wall into a neighborhood landmark.
8. Maitland Art Center — Maitland
Originally built in 1932 by artist and architect Jules André Smith, the Maitland Art Center is one of the few surviving examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the Southeast — home to over 2,000 carvings, sculptures, and murals across its tranquil gardens. It became Central Florida’s first National Historic Landmark in 2014.
9. Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens — Winter Park
The Albin Polasek Museum holds a collection of more than 200 works by Czech-American sculptor Albin Polasek, focused on American representational sculpture and set within beautiful lakeside gardens.
10. IMMERSE Festival Installations — Downtown Orlando (Annual)
Each February, Creative City Project transforms 12 city blocks of downtown Orlando into an open-air art experience — with large-scale installations, live performances, and unexpected creative encounters tucked into alleyways, plazas, and parking garages. Mark your calendar for 2027.
Art Is Everywhere — Go Find It
Central Florida’s public art scene is thriving — and growing. Whether you’re a lifelong local or just passing through, take a detour from the theme parks and let the streets, walls, and open spaces surprise you. The best art is often the kind you stumble upon.
Have a favorite Central Florida art installation we missed? Drop it in the comments below!