A Look at Some of the Artwork Along the Dubuque Riverwalk

To celebrate our one year anniversary, my girlfriend and I did what we did when we first met: take a walk along the beautiful and scenic Dubuque Riverwalk. The Mississippi Riverwalk might be the most enjoyable "free" activity the Tri-States offers, as it affords both tourists and residents a beautiful glimpse of the natural beauty of one of America's greatest rivers.

One of the many delights about the Mississippi Riverwalk in Dubuque, as it's known, is the fact that every year, there are a plethora of art sculptures placed along the trail. While some of these works are creations from people in Dubuque, several come from all around the country, including New York and Eau Claire, WI.

For the 2023-24 "Art on the River" exhibit, there are 11 sculptures on display throughout the Riverwalk. I managed to get photos of 9 of the 11. To make sure I do all the artwork justice, here are the descriptions of the two I missed:

Bilhenry Walker's "Cosmic Slot:"

The interior has a cobalt-blue sliver of light separating the two basic elements. This creates tension between the elements and reveals an inner life that crackles with energy.

Matt Moyer's "Diverted Pump:"

Diverted Pump explores society’s relationship to innovation through an investigation into a relationship with factories, manufacturing, and the machines and people who create those goods and services. These ideas tie directly into Dubuque’s diverse history of manufacturing.

All 11 of the sculptures placed along the Mississippi Riverwalk are for sale. In addition, pamphlets that house information about each of the works are available along the trail. I took the liberty of getting some photos of the works and including the description of them that is featured in the aforementioned pamphlet.

Take a look at the photos of all the works below, and pencil in a time to walk along the Mississippi Riverwalk to appreciate both the beauty of the art and the Tri-States as a whole. Read more about the works of art on the City of Dubuque's website.