🎨 Costa Mesa’s Outdoor Art Walk: Sculpted in Style
California Scenario, Isamu Noguchi, 1982
Costa Mesa is more than just luxury shopping and chef-driven dining. It’s also one of Southern California’s most underrated hubs for public art. Tucked between theaters, gardens, and the iconic South Coast Plaza, you’ll find a free outdoor art walk featuring sculptures, fountains, mosaics, and massive steel installations — all hiding in plain sight.
📍 How to Do the Tour: Start Points & Parking Tips
Start your Costa Mesa Art Walk at one of two convenient locations, depending on where you'd like to begin or end your route.
🎯 Recommended Starting Point:
Plaza Tower Parking Structure (located near the intersection of Anton Boulevard and Park Center Drive)
This is the best place to begin your walk, as it's closest to California Scenario, the first major sculpture in the tour.
After parking, exit onto Park Center Drive and head toward the palm-lined path. Cross Anton Boulevard and you’ll arrive at the edge of the iconic sculpture garden.
🚗 Alternative End Point or Loop Option:
South Parking Structure or Macy’s Lot at South Coast Plaza
Ideal if you prefer to end near shops, dining, or indoor exploration.
These lots offer free parking and are a great return point if you're looping back from the art walk.
Bonus: They're near several indoor installations, making it easy to combine the full tour with shopping, lunch, or coffee.
1. California Scenario — Isamu Noguchi, 1982
One of the nation’s most celebrated sculpture gardens, Noguchi’s masterpiece sits between two office towers. The design reflects California’s landscapes, while the piece Spirit of the Lima Bean honors the region’s farming history and Noguchi’s relationship with Henry Segerstrom.
➡️ From here, continue past Spirit of the Lima Bean toward Comerica Bank, just before TGI Fridays.
2. Sun Ribbon — Claire Falkenstein, 1980
This stained-glass windscreen adds colorful stripes that play against the vertical rise of nearby towers.
➡️ Walk past TGI Fridays toward Anton Boulevard. At the corner of Anton and Avenue of the Arts, cross and turn left. Head north, then turn right near Pizzeria Ortica toward Samueli Theater.
3. Utsurohi 91 — Aiko Miyawaki, 1991
Commissioned for Cesar Pelli’s stainless steel tower, these polished loops frame details of the plaza. Each column carries an animal from the Chinese zodiac.
➡️ Continue toward Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
4. Connector — Richard Serra, 2006
A monumental 65-foot steel sculpture that visually links the surrounding cultural buildings. Step inside to feel its immersive presence.
➡️ Walk toward Segerstrom Hall.
5. Firebird — Richard Lippold, 1986
Soaring above the entrance arch, this gold, red, and silver piece appears to float in air. Named for the Stravinsky ballet, it integrates with Segerstrom Hall’s architecture.
➡️ Climb the spiral staircase to the second level.
6. Reclining Figure — Henry Moore, 1981
Set near the upper entrance to Segerstrom Hall, this bronze abstraction combines realism with organic curves.
➡️ Head down the ramp opposite the piece to see the fountains below.
7. Sun Glitter — Carl Milles, 1932
A bronze mermaid rides a dolphin through sprays of water, a hallmark of Milles’ fountain artistry.
8. Jonah and the Whale — Carl Milles, 1931
This whimsical bronze depicts Jonah emerging from the whale, positioned at the base of Center Tower.
➡️ Enter Center Tower lobby.
9. Oiseau — Joan Miró, 1981
Inside the lobby stands this surreal bronze bird, a playful form echoing Miró’s painted motifs.
➡️ Take the elevator down to the C level.
10. Fermi — Tony Smith, 1975
A white marble sculpture named for physicist Enrico Fermi, reflecting the patterns of nature through minimalist geometry
11. Four Lines Oblique Gyratory-Square IV — George Rickey, 1973
This kinetic stainless steel sculpture dances with the breeze, a 24-foot study of movement and balance.
➡️ Walk back toward Town Center Drive, past South Coast Repertory.
12. Night Shift — Jim Huntington, 1982
A 30-ton granite and steel installation set between The Westin and South Coast Repertory. It blurs the line between built form and natural landscape.
➡️ Continue toward the bold yellow form ahead.
13. The Ram — Charles Owen Perry, 1979
A 20-foot, 7-ton bright yellow steel sculpture, inspired by natural geometry. Playful and curving, it has become a landmark gathering spot.
➡️ Enter Park Tower lobby near Vaca.
14. Tour Aux Jambes — Jean Dubuffet, 1973/1980
Inside the Park Tower lobby, this entwined black-and-white form is illuminated by the modernist glass canopy designed by Helmut Jahn.
➡️ Exit and cross Unity Bridge into South Coast Plaza.
15. Stained Glass Dome — Marion Sampler, 1973
High above Jewel Court, this kaleidoscopic skylight contains 7,200 pieces of glass. It remains one of South Coast Plaza’s most iconic artistic symbols.
➡️ To return, exit between Bloomingdale’s and Seasons 52 and head back toward the Plaza Tower parking structure.
🌟 Notable Mentions
Neptune Water Spouts (Betty Davenport Ford) — Seven Neptune heads form a dramatic fountain outside The Westin South Coast Plaza.
Spatio (Jason Meadows) — A colorful trio of sculptures outside South Coast Repertory, inviting visitors to linger.
Constellation — An installation of 300 polished steel strands forming a sparkling 40-foot-wide ceiling piece in the Segerstrom Concert Hall lobby.
Bridge of Gardens (Kathryn Gustafson) — A stainless steel pedestrian bridge spanning Bear Street, combining structure with landscaped design.
🌴 Rest Among the Masterpieces
After exploring Costa Mesa’s Art Walk, extend the experience with a stay nearby. For luxury just steps from the sculptures, The Westin South Coast Plaza offers elegance and convenience in the heart of the district. If boutique charm and design-forward style appeal to you, Avenue of the Arts Hotel provides a creative retreat close to the starting point. For those seeking space and reliability, Hilton Costa Mesa is a comfortable choice just minutes from the route. Explore more in Costa Mesa & Newport Beach
