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For more than two decades, downtown Sioux Falls has hosted the area’s biggest art gallery in the form of sculptures.

There have been goldfish crafted from scrap metal, eagles sculpted from steel, and a stretching cat in bronze.

A performer bowing to the crowd, a basketball player, a little girl sitting on a globe.

And, of course, things that are less identifiable but no less stunning – all as part of the largest sculpture gallery in the state.

SculptureWalk, now in its 22nd year, spans 80 pieces of art across downtown Sioux Falls, continuing to fulfill its mission to bring art to the people. 

“If you were to walk through downtown and magically all the sculptures were removed, it would be such a different place,” said Andrew Eitreim, who has served on the board of directors for SculptureWalk for more than 10 years.

Board member Jim Mathis agrees – noting that downtown and SculptureWalk have grown together, transforming the area and creating a destination for tourists and locals alike.

“SculptureWalk was one of those things that helped kick off that downtown revitalization,” Mathis said. “You watch families walk downtown with their map, and they’re looking and taking pictures with the kids next to the sculpture, and it’s just made downtown so much more inviting. It makes you want to linger a bit, and then you go into the shops and restaurants.”

Every spring, a team of volunteers removes the old sculptures and puts up the newest collection – determining what goes where, which one fits on which pedestal, and how to create what is essentially an art gallery the literal size of city blocks.

It’s a puzzle that not only showcases a variety of works but that, together, creates an immersive experience.

Mathis said when he first heard of SculptureWalk, he knew he wanted to be part of it. “I reached out and just sent a check and said, ‘This is really cool,’” he said. The next year, his organization sponsored a sculpture, and a bit later he was asked to serve on the board.

The beauty of the sculptures changes with the seasons – that first dusting of snow, or some that you want to see in the morning light. Most of the works are still concentrated in the downtown area, but how to grow – and remain walkable – is something the organization is still determining.

Is it delineated by geography – an East Bank section, a Steel District section?

It’s all under consideration – but what hasn’t changed is the pure joy Mathis feels.

“I love to get up early on those weekend mornings and help weld the sculptures down,” he said of installation weekend. “For a guy who loves art, it’s like Christmas morning – I get to help unwrap all these beautiful gifts.”

He lists several favorites over the years – from an abstract piece called “Embrace” to a playful replica of toy red monkeys called “Monkey’n Around.”

“I had those when I was a kid, and it just took me right back there. The artist is Clark Martinek from Mitchell, and I told him, ‘Man, you’ve captured a moment right there.’ It was something super simple, but that’s what is so fun about it. There’s such a variety.”

Mathis hopes SculptureWalk is a sustainable nonprofit, and the organization has an endowment set up through the Community Foundation to help long into the future.

“We’re getting to the point where we can make some bigger investments and start to plan ahead, and we are seeing where people can look at SculptureWalk as an opportunity to create their own legacy and make a donation that would help us sustain it,” Mathis said. “There are so many ways people can contribute to a community – and we hope people see SculptureWalk as one of those ways.”

Mary Kolsrud, chief philanthropy officer, said organizational endowments help with sustainability.

“SculptureWalk is really thinking ahead – about how they want to be a lasting part of Sioux Falls’ art scene,” Kolsrud said. “Organizational endowments provide that long-term stability. And we know people in this community care deeply about our vibrant arts program. We are proud to be a trusted partner for SculptureWalk.”

Eitreim said working with the Community Foundation just made sense. “The Community Foundation has a long history of working with people whose ultimate goal is to make Sioux Falls a better place,” he said.

Mathis said the Community Foundation allows people to come together to support organizations and causes. “We can all come together and make a difference in the place where we live and the place we’re leaving for our kids and grandkids.”