We’ve walked around ArtPrize with our Mom Eyes engaged.
With that in mind, we’ve spotted more than 30 must-see Art Prize exhibits for families. Some are interactive, all are family-friendly.
Downtown construction this year makes it more challenging to easily navigate to all of our picks in one go. We recommend choosing a different area to visit on each of your trips to ArtPrize.
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Stargate
An innovative 12-foot tall projection sculpture. Viewers are encouraged to climb into the central ring and enjoy the experience. Good selfie spot. Location: Sixth St Bridge Park, 647 Monroe Ave NW |
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Band-Aids
What hurts? What helps? Location: Atrium at Uccello's, 122 Monroe Center St NW |
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Portraiture in Action
Get your portrait drawn for free in 10 minutes, then get your photo taken holding the portrait. The artist plans to draw 200 people during ArtPrize 2024. Location: Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW
Sisters on the Grand
Three large goldfish sculptures near the Grand River that spin in the wind. Location: Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW
Dynamic Sunset
A large landscape painting made with acrylic and oil on polished brass Location: Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW
Moon Landing
Come check out a Lego Astronaut at Ford Museum Location: Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW |
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Dr. DataBeats' Digital Music Playland
This is a unique interactive music experience, making music fun and accessible for people of all ages and any level of experience. Location: Canal Park Presented by SILVA, 941 Monroe Ave NW |
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Divine Arcana
Walk-through tunnel designed to mimic stained glass windows. Location: Homewood Suites by Hilton, 161 Ottawa Ave NW |
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Spray Paint Live Art Show
Spray-painting live right in front of you. Paintings are done by Froggy in 5 minutes or less. Location: The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave NW |
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Ephemerality
Walk through the pathways and archways of this abstract garden installation. Location: Monroe Community Church, 1020 Monroe Ave NW |
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Celebrating America
A collection of small paintings by students from Walker Charter Academy, VFW Camp Trotter, and Caledonia elementary, intermediate, and middle schools of the people, places, and things that symbolize America. Location: Art For Honor at Veterans Memorial Park, 101 Fulton St E
The Protector
A sculpture tribute to Emperor, the artist's first service dog. Emperor was assigned to SEAL Team 3 for bomb detection and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. This monument stands for the memory of all warriors who have stood on the wall protecting us all every day. Location: Art For Honor at Veterans Memorial Park, 101 Fulton St E |
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Second Shift
A 12 foot tall colorful statue made out of steel armature and a dish glove made of crocheted plastic rope. This art structure is designed to envoke thoughts around the realities of the distribution of labor in the home. Location: Van Andel Arena, 130 Fulton St W
One Last Sip
A giant skeleton slurping a silly straw of oil or gas pipline from a large soda cup. Location: Van Andel Arena, 130 Fulton St W |
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Michigan Oasis
It includes a working waterfall! Location: Biggby Coffee, 146 Monroe Center St NW |
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My Poem Your Topic
Get a poem on the spot from Endlesswill, a spoken word poet, author, and typewriter artist. You give him one word, and he crafts a custom poem for you right then (on a vintage typewriter.) Location: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue NW
Tut's Tomb
Hand carved and painted life size wooden replica of King Tut’s coffin, Tomb and Artifacts from his Tomb. Movement, Lights, Sounds. Location: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue NW
One Line Drawing of a Princess
This 8-foot-tall drawing of Princess Diana was made using a single continuous pen and ink line on paper. Location: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue NW
Bat Mobile
Turned a simple car into an art master piece. You'll recognize a lot of the car's additions. Location: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue NW |
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Hangin' by a Thread by Robert Shangle
Live statue performance - Outdoors- corner of Monroe Ave NW and Pearl St (near Amway Grand Plaza Hotel) Location: Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW
Ruling the North
Striking painting of a lion using the Detroit Lions color palette. Location: Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW
Face It Together
A digital art experience featuring the faces of donors from Grand Rapids and around the world who have given $10 to help alleviate the financial and emotional burdens of cancer treatment. Location: Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW |
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Intergalactic Arts Federation
PO (Art)Box is ArtPrize's smallest venue. Inside each mailbox cubby is art from a collection of artists that came together to create the dioramas or micro-installations that you see here. Location: PO Art Box, 120 Monroe Center St NW |
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Northern Brilliance
Have you ever gone rock hunting in a painting? Well, this vibrant landscape painting of northern Michigan at the peak of fall is stocked with gemstones. We even found some petoskey stones! Location: Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids Downtown, 11 Monroe Ave NW |
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Ethereal Lantern Tree
A tree made from fabric, art quilts, beads, decoupage, paper and paint fills the corner of the room. By a Grand Haven artist Location: Arts Marketplace, 121 Ionia Ave SW
Disappointed Wildlife
Scan the paintings of endangered species with your phone to interact with them using augmented reality Location: Arts Marketplace, 121 Ionia Ave SW |
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1000 Love Letters
Cards, art supplies and clipboards will be provided to allow people to write and submit an anonymous love letter. Location: Bridge Street Market, 405 Seward Ave NW |
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Archway to Heaven
Seven 20-foot arches hang elegantly in the air. Made from birch wood and colored acrylic in a gradient pattern, they have built-in LEDs that can be controlled individually. Location: Fifth Third Bank, 111 Lyon St NW |
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Unfinished Business
A near life-size portrait of the artist’s horse, Estrellas Remarkablez. Location: JW Marriott, 235 Louis St NW
Resplendence
It's a kaleidoscope made with flowers! Look through one of the viewing teleidoscopes to see a kaleidoscope reflection of the flowers in the display. The teleidoscopes are mounted at different heights so everyone can get a view. Location: JW Marriott, 235 Louis St NW |
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marshmallow polypore variant
A huge installation of paper meant to symbolize bee hive's and other every day things we often ignore Location: Kendall College of Art and Design, 17 Fountain NW
Dear Future Me
Write a letter to your future self and drop it into the mailbox of when you want to receive it. It will really be mailed to you! Listen to gentle music while you write. Location: Kendall College of Art and Design, 17 Fountain NW |
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What Color are You?
Each crepe paper flower in my work carries meaning: Location: Periwinkle Fog, 125 Ottawa Ave NW |
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Via Chorus Oculi (Way of the Eye Dancing)
An interactive mural lets anyone scan it with a phone to identify 100+ Grand Rapids landmarks. Location: Shakedown Street, 670 Leonard St NW
Golden Rod Girls
You can take one of these lovely ladies home this ArtPrize 2024! Keep our eyes peeled! You can find them in flower beds, trees, and Grand Rapids staples. Location: Shakedown Street, 670 Leonard St NW |
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“David” Viewing & Activation
You won't want to miss this larger-than-life, world-class activation making its U.S. premier at ArtPrize. Location: 45 Ottawa Ave NW, 45 Ottawa Ave NW |
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Just Keep Swimming
The theme of this mural is the movement in the community. Showcasing a variety of fish on the move. Location: River Edge Trail Mural, 225 Michigan St NW |
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"It's Reigning Cats & Dogs" A "Tail" of Tricky Tongue Twisters
8 whimsical paintings, each with a tongue twister to try. Location: Mojo's Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant, 180 Monroe Ave NW |
Is There More Fun Interactive Art?
ArtPrize is more than a gallery; it’s an experience that invites you to become part of the art.
Make sure to get out there and enjoy these amazing interactive exhibits. And don’t forget to cast your votes for your favorites! Your participation helps to celebrate the talents and hard work of all the artists involved.
