Public Art Program
Call for artists: Our Utility Box Art Wraps program is seeking original artwork to replicate on vinyl wraps that will be installed on utility boxes. Youth submissions encouraged! Learn more under the Utility Box Wraps section.
Currently, the City of Fridley is home to a small variety of public art with plans for more installations in the future.
Northern Leopard Frog at Moore Lake Park
The Northern Leopard Frog is a sculpture created with hand-crafted, mosaic tile located at Moore Lake Park. The piece was installed in 2025 and created by local artist, Jessica Turtle.
About the artwork
Spotting a Northern Leopard Frog is a sign that you are near a thriving wetland! Due to their sensitive skin, these amphibians can only live in healthy, aquatic ecosystems. This sculpture, funded by Mary T. Crooners Supper Club and Rice Creek Watershed District and created by artist Jessica Turtle, celebrates art, science and play through color, creativity and an invitation to explore all that Moore Lake Park has to offer.
Thank you to the Fridley Arts Commission, Fridley Creative Arts Foundation, Mary T., Rice Creek Watershed District and Jessica Turtle for bringing this vision to life.
Commons Park Art
A large sculpture has been commissioned from artist Ken McCall for the new Commons Park. This artwork will be a prominent feature of the park and will celebrate themes identified by residents through community engagement and installation is planned for summer 2026.
Every element of the large sculpture, Manoonmin, carries a layered meaning:
Welcoming Hands: The open hands are a universal gesture of friendship and hospitality, embodying Fridley's reputation for being a warm, inclusive community. They invite interaction, reflection and a sense of belonging.
Wild Rice (Manoomin): The rice sprouting from the hands connects the piece to Fridley's agricultural heritage and the native wild rice that grows in Minnesota's wetlands. 'Manoomin' acknowledges the Ojibwe people, for whom wild rice is a sacred and sustaining food, celebrating their enduring cultural legacy.
Rice Creek Depiction: The sculpted map of Rice Creek pays homage to the local environment, serving as a reminder of the community's connection to its natural resources and the importance of stewardship.
Unity and Diversity: By intertwining references to native traditions, agricultural abundance, and a welcoming spirit, the sculpture conveys a message of unity in diversity, a vision for a community that cherishes its roots while embracing change and growth.
Utility Box Wraps
The City of Fridley Utility Box Art Program is a public art program designed to transform utility boxes in the City into distinctive works of art, creating a more welcoming, vibrant and attractive landscape. The City is seeking original designs by artists to wrap up to six designated utility boxes in Fridley.
The City of Fridley has identified six utility boxes along University Avenue (Highway 47) that will serve as a pilot program for utility box wraps to assist in evaluation of an expanded program. The pilot program implementation period will span from 2026-2027 and will allow staff, Commissions and Council to evaluate the selection process, program impact and maintenance responsibilities prior to possible program expansion.
Call for Artists
The City of Fridley is seeking original artwork from area artists to replicate on vinyl wraps that will be installed on utility boxes along University Avenue in Fridley. Youth and adult artists are encouraged to apply!
Eligibility: The opportunity is open to artists residing in or having a strong relationship with the City of Fridley. Examples may include working or attending school in Fridley or being affiliated with a Fridley-based non-profit organization. Preference will be given to current residents of Fridley.
A variety of mediums will be considered if the artwork can be successfully converted to a digital file format. All non-youth submissions must be in the specified digital format detailed in the Policies and Guidelines document(PDF, 2MB). Artwork must be original to the artist and not created using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Artists will receive $500 for each artwork submission selected by the Fridley Public Arts Commission for use in the program. Final selection and disbursement of the $500 award is contingent on the individual signing an artwork use agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Timeline
- April 22, 2026 - Application submission deadline
- May 6, 2026 - Anticipated selection of artwork at the Fridley Public Arts Commission meeting
- Prior to May 29, 2026 - Final design notice to artists
- Summer 2026 - Artwork installed
Project timeline is subject to change.
Resources
Submit an artwork application
Creative Flow Art Center
To further the arts in Fridley, we welcome the Creative Flow Art Center to our community. This art center, which is affiliated with Rum River Art Center, has moved into what was Fridley Fire Station 3 at 110 77th Way NE and East River Road. Visit the Creative Flow Art Center website for more information on gallery hours, classes and events.
Background
The City of Fridley’s journey into public art began with community input gathered during public engagement meetings in fall 2023. At that time, the vision was to integrate public art into the Civic Campus and eventually expand it to other areas of the City.
This vision took a major step forward thanks to an anonymous donor who generously contributed $100,000. This unexpected gift provided not only the resources to kickstart the Public Art Initiative but also ensured the initiative would have the financial support to move beyond mere discussion and into action.
The community played a vital role in shaping the initiative. Through a series of discussions in late 2023, citizens offered valuable recommendations, culminating in a Fridley Public Art Plan (PDF) presented to the City.
Public Arts Commission
The Public Arts Commission, established in 2024, is a group of seven residents appointed by the City Council. The Fridley public art model is a collaborative framework that brings together the City Council, Public Arts Commission, and Fridley Creative Arts Foundation. These three groups work collectively and, at times, independently to achieve the shared vision of enriching Fridley, Minnesota, with dynamic public art.
Donations
Interested in donating to public art? Donations can be made to the non-profit Fridley Creative Arts Foundation.
Contact Us
If you have questions about public art in the City of Fridley, email the Public Arts staff liaisons.