Olathe council approves 2025 outdoor sculpture series; committee expands installations beyond downtown

The Olathe City Council on March 4 approved the 2025 Olathe Outdoor Sculpture Series, a rotating, leased collection of public artwork selected by the Olathe Public Art Committee.

Chelsea Walker, chair of the Olathe Public Art Committee, told the council the program — rebranded this year from the downtown outdoor sculpture exhibit — typically selects six to eight sculptures leased for one year and pays artists a stipend to participate. "We wanted to be able to expand to areas greater than just the downtown area," Walker said, describing plans to place works in additional locations throughout the city.

Selected works highlighted during the presentation included Natural Wonders by Michelle and Dennis Mushedale (a bronze piece featuring a child and turtle); Lyric, an 8-foot tall biomorphic piece; Rusted Spire; Snowy Owl; The Reader, an interactive bronze; Purple Coneflower; and Aspera vulgaris, a colorful abstract sponsored and placed in front of Azura’s business this year. Walker said Azura is covering the full stipend for the piece it selected.

Renee Rush, events, rental and art manager and staff liaison to the art committee, explained the program’s lease model: the city generally leases works for one year rather than purchasing, enabling more variety and limiting maintenance obligations. "Every year, we lease them. So the artists are paid a stipend. They come in in May, and we install them, and then they stay for a year, and then the artist takes them and moves them somewhere else," Walker said.

Council members welcomed the selections and the decision to expand locations beyond downtown. The motion to approve the 2025 Olathe Outdoor Sculpture Series passed 6-0 on roll call.

Why it matters: The rotating program allows the city to present a variety of public art across neighborhoods without capital purchase; sponsorships such as the Azura partnership offset costs for specific placements.