Magnolias for Pittsburgh

Magnolias for Pittsburgh located in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh's revitalized Cultural District, consists of two bronze sculptures of flowering magnolia trees, hand painted in urethane enamel by artist Tony Tesset. The trees are hand-sculpted from replica magnolias that hold over 800 sculpted flowers. Surrounded by five real magnolia trees, the sculpture sits in a rich bed of ivy ground cover and features a walkway that meanders through the site. "The intention of Magnolias for Pittsburgh was first and foremost to create a public work with an egalitarian aesthetic that appeals to a wide range of the population," Mr. Tasset writes in his artist's statement. "I wanted to simply create a little magic, fairy tale moment in the daily hustle and bustle of downtown Pittsburgh. Magnolias is meant to have a dynamic relationship with the environment," Tasset continues. "Always looking different as the stillness of the bronzes emphasizes the change of the seasons." - Americans For The Arts