New Sculptures Installed for Watertown Artwalk’s 12th Season

A new season of Artwalk is underway in Watertown, with 16 sculptures now installed across the community for the 2026–2027 exhibit.

Now in its 12th year, Artwalk continues to grow into a valued part of Watertown, offering a free, year-round outdoor sculpture experience. Whether you’re walking downtown, driving through, or showing visitors around, it’s one of those simple additions that makes the community just a little more interesting.

This year’s exhibit features 13 sculptures in downtown Watertown, beginning at Foundation Plaza and continuing west along Kemp Avenue, with additional pieces located just south on Broadway. Three more sculptures can be found outside the downtown area at Lake Area Technical College, the Redlin Art Center, and along Willow Creek Drive near Meyer Insurance.

Artwalk began in 2015 as part of the H2O-20 community visioning effort, where downtown beautification was identified as a priority. Today, it has become a destination in its own right, with visitors from across the region making it part of their annual trip to Watertown.

Each year, the Watertown Area Community Foundation partners with SculptureWalk in Sioux Falls to bring a new collection of sculptures to the community. While some pieces are requested, the final lineup isn’t confirmed until installation begins, making each season a bit of a surprise.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated group of local volunteers handles everything from removing the previous sculptures to installing the new ones, placing signage, and preparing materials for the season. Their work, along with the continued support of sponsors and Friends of Artwalk donors, makes the program possible year after year.

Visitors are also encouraged to enhance their experience through the Otocast audio tour. Each sculpture includes a QR code that links to a short audio segment where artists share the story and inspiration behind their work.

Printed maps are available at downtown businesses, local banks, and the Foundation, and a digital version can be found at watertowncommunityfoundation.org.

Whether you’re out for a walk or simply passing through downtown, take some time to explore Artwalk and experience this year’s collection.