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While we do believe that art is subjective — what looks meaningful to one person might look strange to someone else — some statues do manage to unite nearly everyone in agreement.
Not because they’re beautiful, but because many people find them to be an eyesore or simply funny.
Netizens from around the world have been sharing the strangest looking statues from their cities, and some of them will definitely make you pause and dig deeper.
Whether it’s the Marilyn Monroe statue in California or Melbourne’s Quasi statue, or a strange looking panda sculpture somewhere, these works made us wonder what the artists were thinking. Or if they were even thinking at all.
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#1
Ireland
The Ferryman's End in Co. Wicklow. Maybe more creepy than ugly?
RELATED:
#2
Finland
I see this marvelous thing at least a couple of times a week. I live almost next to it. :D
#3
Australia
he’s definitely up there lol
Public opinion on art can be surprisingly strong.
In 2025, a survey asked 2,000 Americans to name the ugliest public art in the country.
The top spot went to the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise, Alabama. It was built in 1919 and honors the insect that once destroyed local cotton crops.
While that may sound strange, the pest actually forced farmers to diversify which made the local economy better.
But many people still find the image of a woman proudly holding a giant bug confusing rather than inspiring.
Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks in New Haven was voted the second ugliest. It was designed as political commentary, but to many people, it simply looks weird.
#4
USA
Idk what this is actually called, but I have always called it The Colon
#5
Slovenia
An artist made this Trump statue monstrosity in Moravce in order to bring in tourists. Someone burnt it to the ground shortly after it was erected.
There was also a similarly ugly statue of Melanija in her hometown of Sevnica, but it also got burnt and then somebody stole it.
#6
New Zealand
This nightmare, official name Quasi, nicknames are far more lewd!
ETA: the face is the artist's, not a foreign politician or billionaire, but I can see some of the resemblances you guys are picking out! Apparently we recently passed this on to Tasmania, pour one out for the poor guys, who knows how long they're gonna be haunted!
Surveys have also found a pattern in what people find strange in public art.
Giant animals, insects, and everyday objects blown up to extreme size often appear on ugly lists.
For example, the Woinic sculpture in France features a massive steel wild boar. It weighs around 50 tons and is one of the largest animal sculptures in the world. It’s impressive, but not at all subtle.
#8
Sweden
Sweden’s very first attempt of lion taxidermy.
#9
Finland
This is bad
Statues of real people are also hard to like, unless they’re perfectly made.
For example, the statue of Lucille Ball in New York has been nicknamed “Scary Lucy” because it looks nothing like Lucille Ball, the beloved star of ‘I Love Lucy’ sitcom.
People said the face was distorted and the smile felt more creepy than comedic.
Sports figures and celebrity statues in other places have faced similar criticism — think Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous airport bust in Portugal or even the polarizing reactions to Michael Jordan’s statue in Chicago.
#10
Scotland
Dandy Lion in Scotland
#11
Ireland
The Luke Kelly statue in Dublin. Well made but reminds me of the decapitated John de Baptist.
#12
USA
Mothman - Point Pleasant West Virginia
Artists believe that human likeness is really hard to get right.
“In my experience, one of the biggest challenges in sculpting realistic human figures is creating an authentic sense of presence… this approach takes patience, especially with marble, where tight timelines or even my own impatience can make things challenging,” says sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås, whose works include iconic figures like Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
“In high-profile works, public reactions can be intense and varied. People have strong ideas about how these individuals look, who they are, and how they should be remembered,” he adds.
#13
Poland
snail pope
#14
Netherlands
I mean we have some very weird statues but the weirdest one in my opinion was on that stopped a metro from crashing
#15
Finland
Theres a statue park in Parikkala, Finland that not a lot of people know about. Its very unsettling, theres hundreds of statues like this and the teeth look way too real to me.
Trip Martin 7 hours ago
What are the little people in the background supposed to be doing? Dancing, fighting, gymnastics?
For some artists, the challenge lies in going beyond mere likeness to tell a story that means something. At the same time, they need to be ready for an audience that may not always understand the intent of their art.
In China, an online poll collected thousands of votes to rank the ugliest public sculptures.
A piece called ‘Life,’ an abstract structure in Wuhan made of steel rods shaped like a nest, was voted the worst by the public.
Art experts defended it as a strong example of modern design.
The situation highlighted a common tension — what artists praise might not always be what everyday viewers appreciate.
#17
Paraguay
This thing was supposed to be a monument to the doctors who fought against Covid. But instead, it looks like something out of Resident Evil.
#18
France
Behold France's masterpiece! Woinic, the mighty swine of the Ardennes!
Public opinion means a lot when it comes to public art. So much so that backlash and criticism can lead to the removal of some statues.
For example, Den Store Havfrue — the “Big Mermaid” statue —in Denmark’s Copenhagen is going to be removed after several complaints from locals who called it vulgar and out of place.
The artist defended his work, but the locals and the government had the final say.
#19
Netherlands
Official name: Santa Claus known as: the Bum plug gnome
#20
Wales
While personally I like it, I think a few people consider Liverpool's Superlambanana ugly. I love it's quirkyness tbh
Artists believe that even if a piece of art leads to memes or outrage, it still serves a purpose by starting conversations and making people react.
“Every piece of public art alters its surroundings, provoking a range of responses. Some embrace the transformation, while others resist it. Either way, the interaction between a statue and its viewers is a critical part of its story,” says Norwegian sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås.
#21
Germany
„Travelling Giants in the Wind“, Westerland (Sylt)
Safe to say the Island people are not happy with these
Peeka_Mimi 8 hours ago
I lived in Germany. They have some genuinely bizarre statues. I wish I had pictures.
#22
USA
We have this nightmare creature in Alabama.
That being said, many artists still stand by public art, regardless of how it’s received.
“Art is not meant to please everyone. It’s meant to provoke thought, to challenge perspectives, and to honor stories in a way that transcends the literal,” says international artist and sculptor Omri Amrany.
#23
UK
Peeka_Mimi 8 hours ago
I don't think we should allow that thing near children even if they're statues.
#26
USA
The Blue Mustang at the Denver airport
#27
France
From France, Woinic is not the ugliest. I present you the horrendous horse statue from the Gare de Rennes
#29
Indonesia
Sadly it does not look the same today😔🙏
#30
Iran
This one never failes to crack me up!
#31
USA
Ruined a perfectly beautiful mountain sacred to the Indigenous community for this garbage 😤
#32
Taiwan
I thought this is bad enough but after almost died laughing at all kinds of monstrosity in the comment I feel like this is just mildly bad. But anyway—— sleep paralysis Nemo.
#33
USA
(Has since been taken down)
Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate General and Ku Klux Klan leader, Nashville, Tennessee
#34
Brazil
The great poop of Ponta Grossa
I know it wasnt supposed to represent a poop but i still have no clue of what it supposed to represent instead, still a masterpiece tho
Bill Swallow 5 hours ago
If anyone remembers the anime film 'Project A-Ko', that's nearly a dead ringer for the huge alien ship 'impaled' on the spire at the end of the movie.
#35
France
The ""Christmas tree"" that was in the place Vendaume, Paris. 24 meter high, a lot of people were pissed off
#36
Portugal
The one on the right.
#37
Lithuania
It's like an equivalent of the banana taped to the wall. The OG ragebait
#39
USA
How about "National Velvet" by artist John McEnroe, Denver, CO? Everyone knows and talks about Blucifer, our bronco from hell, but everyone forgets about this sculpture that looks like a pile of stockings filled with concrete and painted red. To me it always looks like a pile of human kidneys.
#40
Canada
World's largest sausage
#41
Iran
it was so bad that the government had to come and say that it was designed and built by down-syndrome kids, which was denied by every single organization
#42
Poland
Poland. Yep, it's John Paul II
#43
Canada
Drove by this guy as a kid on a few occasions in the 70's. BTW, it's a potato.
#44
Finland
”Tähtiin tähyävät” / ”Stargazers”. Turku, Finland
#46
Austria
But at least they let the kids play on it, my old hometown replaced it's old fauntain in the park with a really nice one from an artist and now the children are not allowed to play in the water
#47
France
« Hommage à Confucius » or “Tribute to Confucius” statue in my town
#48
Canada
This painted concrete mess in Kingston Ontario probably seemed like a fun concept for a park.
#49
Poland
Maybe “ugly” isn’t the right word but it is certainly something. Sexy horse from Konin.
David Paterson 4 hours ago
The Centaur. Body of a man and head of a horse. Or should that be the other way around?
#52
Mexico
How about this one in Colima Mexico, where I live.
It's called "Figura Obscena" (Obscene Figure). So no pretense, it knows what it is.
#56
Russia
And this abomination in almost every neighborhood in suburbs
#57
India
Not a statue, but this is the National Fisheries Development Board's office building in my hometown of Hyderabad.
It is an eyesore.
#58
Czechia
If I had to choose iwould eighter pick this
#59
Ireland
The Naas roundabout ball
#61
Canada
Le bon élan, in Rimouski, QC
#62
Sweden
In Sweden we had this one of our very own Zlatan but people kept snatching his schnoz.
#63
Lithuania
We had this "skater" in my city that looks like Lukashenko. It was vandalised many times and it's no longer there
#65
Kernow
Analyn Lahr 9 hours ago
I'm sorry but I thought that was a warrior hobbit till I scrolled down
#66
Finland
Sculptor Veikko Myller's 1994 Risto Ryti monument, or "The Years of Responsibility," is officially the ugliest statue in Finland. The statue is supposed to depict a person sitting on the ground, but it brings to mind something completely different.
#67
Japan
Oh, we have a poo
#68
UK
Probably the famous Milton Keynes Concrete Cows.
#69
Germany
The Roland of Bad Bederkesa, Northern Germany. And no, it's not a joke, it was created between 1599 and 1604:
#71
Korea South
This statue was put on display in 2015 in Sejong City, meant to symbolize a traditional dancer, but people complained that it looked creepy and said it looks closer to the Korean grim reaper (jeosung saja) so it got removed.
However recently after Kpop Demon Hunters became popular, people started joking that they predicted the future, and some think they should put it on display again with some adjustments to lure in tourists.
#72
Russia
1-800-OMG-STFU 5 hours ago
Reminds me of squishing multiple different colors of play-doh together.
#73
Spain
Probably this horse in Barcelona airport
Mr. Karate 3 hours ago
This sculpture is by the master Fernando Botero, one of the most important modern Colombian artists. Only someone ignorant of art would say it's ugly.
#74
USA
This statue in Boston, MA comes to mind
#76
Australia
The big mango in Bowen, Australia. We were driving down the coast and spotted this seemingly randomly placed at the edge of the town.
#77
USA
The US is known for it's roadside monstrosities
Of all of the ones I know, I think this is the ugliest. The Marily Monore one in Palm Springs, California.
#78
Yorkshire
I forgot who this was of but I saw this statue at the national portrait gallery in London one time
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