The steel panels on the west side of Ed Johann Plaza in Oceanlake are the creation of local artist and blacksmith Don Wisener. Don’s studio is located in Rose Lodge, in the scenic mountains just east of Lincoln City. He transforms rigid metal into flowing works of art, as demonstrated in this interpretation of Cascade Head. This was dedicated in 2008. Artist: Don T. Wisener

The Dragon Mural on the north side of the Sapphire Center is a collaborative effort between store owner Claire Hagen and noted wildlife painter Justin Sparks. Justin has painted over 35 murals along the Oregon coast. Most feature marine wildlife, including whales and a giant octopus. The Dragon Mural is unique as his only venture into mythical creatures. The little girl peering into the mural makes guests do a double-take while driving by. Justin Sparks has also recently restored and realistically painted the Joe the Sea Lion statue at the beach access in Lincoln City’s Nelscott neighborhood. Artist: Justin Sparks

This Living Art for the Community installation was conceived by Lincoln City artist James Lukinich in 2021. Originally an arborist, James began carving dead trees for fun while he and his wife were living in San Diego. Past projects include a huge safari-theme sculpture in San Diego, large pieces for properties in and near Willamina, Oregon, and the Eddie Waves at the Surfland Hotel in Lincoln City. Artist: James Lukinich

Artists: Dreamland Skate Parks "Gary the Octopus," is Dreamland Skate Parks first “non skate-able creature.” The statue is surrounded by a number of mosaic sea creatures that complement the presence of the octopus. The octopus's glass eyes were designed and created by local glass artist, Kelly Howard. Located on the Cultural Plaza at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, “Gary the Octopus” is the center piece of the Plaza’s Kiwanis Outdoor Art Classroom.

The choice to incorporate knots, nets, rope, and a float in this ground mural at the Lincoln City Community Center is an acknowledgment of the nautical history, and of the ocean providing life to all of the people that have lived here. The blue "hannunvaakuna" knot is a Finnish symbol of good luck and references the people who lived in the DeLake area. The red knot is a Chinese symbol of good fortune and represents the people who worked in the local canneries early on. The purple net is an indication of the Hawaiian people who came to the area long ago as they used to dye their hand-tied nets purple with bark to make them less visible in the water. The black fishnets are symbolic of the native people that always lived in the coastal area and those who were moved here later on. The glass float is a reference to the hand-blown floats that are currently hidden for Finders Keepers as well as the Japanese floats that inspired them as they washed up on the beach. Artist: Ashlin Bush

Artist and death doula, Crystal Meneses created the Ice Cream and Waves ground mural as part of the Community Art Mural project in Lincoln City. This piece is based on an article she read about terminal children’s favorite days of life; how they loved ice cream and going to the beach. The mural is to teach the importance of enjoying life at every opportunity. Artist: Crystal Meneses working with Activate Arts Youth Artists

In Memory of Joe the Sea Lion and donated to the City by Suzanne Allen. The SW 35th Street beach access is guarded by the watchful eye of Joe the Sea Lion. This statue sits patiently at the end of the access greeting visitors to the beach. Joe unexpectedly came from the sea in 1936 and quickly became Nelscott's unofficial mascot and celebrity. Thousands came to visit Joe, who liked to go into houses along the waterfront, be splashed with a hose, and have his back scratched with a broom. Envious residents of a neighboring town complained to a game warden, who forced Joe back into the ocean and made him swim away. Years later, a dead sea lion with the same markings as Joe was found in the Sea Lion Caves at Florence, OR. Joe underwent much-needed restoration work in 2019, including realistic paint by artist Justin Sparks. Justin has painted over 35 murals on the Oregon coast. Most of them are of marine wildlife, ranging from whales to a giant octopus. Some of Sparks’ artwork can be seen at the Depoe Bay Whale, Sealife, and Shark Museum, on the exterior walls of the Beach Club & Event Center here in Lincoln City, and on the north wall of the Sapphire Center in the Taft neighborhood. Dedicated August 1, 2014. Artist: Originally purchased through a company in New York, repainted by Justin Sparks

Gifted by noted bronze artist Anna Hyatt Huntington during the naming of Lincoln City. Getting Lincoln City’s “free” statue to the coast from the New York World’s Fair proved a challenge. The 6,500-pound statue and its 2,000-pound crate were taken from New Jersey to New York by barge, then from New York to Chicago by train. Because of tunnels and overpasses, it had to be routed up through Canada by rail, back into the U.S. through Montana, and eventually to Salem, Oregon. From Salem, it was transported to Lincoln City on a special flatbed truck with a crew moving ahead of the truck, pushing power and telephone lines up so the statue could pass underneath. By the time it arrived in Lincoln City, the cost of shipping approximated the value of the statue. On October 9, 1965, 100 years after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Oregon Governor Mark Hatfield dedicated the statue that helped name Lincoln City. Artist: Anne Hyatt Huntington

Artists: Jeremy Nichols and Blaine Fontana “The Magic of The Lincoln City Kite Festival is based on a still image from the animated “Oregon, Still Only Slightly Exaggerated” video campaign. Created in partnership with Travel Oregon, the mural celebrates Lincoln City’s admired Kite Festivals while also establishing Lincoln City as the 10th destination on the statewide Oregon Mural Trail. Located on the eastern exterior wall outside McKay’s Market off Highway 101.

The octopus mural at The Haven was created by artists Goonie Wolfe, Anthony Ortega and TME Crew. Anthony Ortega is a fine artist and tattoo artist based out of Reno, Nevada with a heavy background in large-scale art installations. Anthony has taken his colorful work to a new level, and it shows in his tattoos and murals. Artist: Goonie Wolfe, Anthony Ortega and TME Crew

The ZuhG Life mural on the north retaining wall of Pines Dine is the work of Bryan Nichols, local artist, surf shop owner, singer/songwriter, and avid surfer. New stories are introduced along the mural’s 150-foot length, with details to be discovered within Bryan’s characteristic style of vibrant block-coloring intertwined with swirling lines. Energetic blue displays the artist’s obvious affinity for the ocean while rich green illuminates how the forest meets the sea in Lincoln City. Vivid reds and yellows represent rainbows, flowers, and Nichols' signature multi-colored whale. He draws people in with bright art pieces and moves the with unexpected details. Artist: Bryan Nichols

Octopus, crab & fish sculptures were dedicated on March 11, 2006. These playful creatures were made by Lincoln City artist Heidi Erickson and installed as part of the community center’s expansion project in 2005. Students were invited to name the creatures, and staff chose their final monikers: Ozzie the Octopus, Louie the Crab and Finigan the Fish. The project was paid by the Lincoln City Percent for Art Fund. Artist: Heidi Erickson

The Poetry Path, one of the main features of the Lincoln City Cultural Plaza is engraved into this expansive sidewalk that surrounds the Lincoln City Cultural Center. The path features the community poem, “Why They Came,” written by Lincoln City poet John Fiedler, engraved into the sidewalk, alongside currents of colored aggregate rock. This composition is an ode to the natural and human history of the Delake district, the nearby Devils Lake, and Lincoln City as a whole.

Featuring prominently off Highway 101, this sculpture by Pete Beeman is a four-legged beast with a central body and feelers free to swing in space. Pete Beeman named the sculpture in honor of his mother. When landscaping is complete, the suspended section will be within visitor reach, letting them bring the sculpture to life. Leaf shapes at the top were fused glass by Kelly Howard and Kerstin Hilton, who worked with Pete Beeman to bring just the right flash of color to Poppy. The sculpture was dedicated on January 10, 2023. Artist: Pete Beeman, with Kelly Howard and Kerstin Hilton

Under the direction of Sandy Pfaff, former executive director of the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau, this mosaic was originally installed at the Lincoln City Glass Center and eventually relocated to the Lincoln City Community Center. Twenty to twenty-five young kids ages 10 – 16, laid the thousands of glass tiles needed to depict the five-by 12-foot image of salmon swimming in the nearby Pacific Ocean. The mural was publicly dedicated on October 25, 2013. Artist: Let There Be Arts Kids and Krista Eddy

The reason Sparky sticks out is that Lincoln City artists Heidi Erikson and Doug Kroger built him through a unique process. Created with recycled pieces of steel, round bar and retread tires, the pieces were each galvanized separately to protect from the rusting inherent to the Oregon Coast's rainy climate and salty air. Sparky was selected by the American Galvanizers Association as a winner of the 2013 Excellence in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Awards, earning top prize among more than 120 projects submitted. Sparky got his nickname because his heart contains special wishes inside. Dedicated in 2012. Artist: Heidi Erikson & Doug Kroger

Frank Boyden’s iconic steel sculpture of a salmon run, The Return, was dedicated in 1982. Frank is a prolific artist whose portfolio includes work in ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, and public art. He founded the nearby Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in 1970. Boyden’s artistic practices reflect his lifelong interests in the environment and the biological sciences, incorporating a sense that an object has been made within the place where it exists. Everything he creates is in context. Artist: Frank Boyden

Purchased and shipped from Korea in 2002 following their display at the FIFA World Cup, the Palace Inn Totems were originally monuments made from oak and pine. Over the years, the wood deteriorated, and the totems have since been repaired using concrete. 5,000 – 6,000 years ago in Korea, totems like these were traditionally placed at the edges of villages to mark village boundaries and ward off evil and were also used as a GPS identifying distance. Artist: Yoosuk Bang

Justin Sparks is a prolific mural artist, having painted over 35 murals along the Oregon coast. Most feature marine wildlife, including whales and a giant octopus seen on the exterior of the Beach Club and Event Center. Other works by Justin Sparks in Lincoln City, include his realistic painting of the Joe the Sea Lion statue at the beach access in Lincoln City’s Nelscott neighborhood and the dragon on the north wall of the Sapphire Center in Taft. Artist: Justin Sparks

The ZuhG Life Ground Mural at the NW 26th Street beach access expresses the life that artist Bryan Nichols advocates and lives. Bryan implements themes of sweeping large green trees, colorful sea life, lively flowers, crashing waves, and more to embody the Oregon Coast. He is an artist that practices his craft across a number of mediums, including music, graphics, and sticker design. Bryan’s murals can also be found at The Pines Dine in south Lincoln City and the SCP Hotel in Depoe Bay, and at his own store, ZuhG Life Surf Shop. Completed in 2022. Artist: Bryan Nichols