The Indiana University Bloomington campus is home to various sculptures and statues. Many are depictions of historic IU figures, while others are abstract installations commissioned to honor the campus. These works capture and commemorate IU's vast history, which spans more than two centuries.
Here are seven different campus art installations and their backgrounds:
“Peau Rouge Indiana” by Alexander Calder
Located in front of the Jacobs School of Music Musical Arts Center, this 40-foot-tall red steel sculpture was originally built in 1970 by Alexander Calder in Tours, France. Starting in November 2025, the statue underwent an extensive restoration process, receiving a fresh coat of its signature bright red paint after sandblasting.
The sculpture was first commissioned for the campus' 150th birthday by IU alumnus Oscar R. Ewing, who graduated in 1910 with a philosophy degree and became the Federal Security Agency's administrator. The statue’s placement directly in front of the Musical Arts Center symbolizes IU's commitment to the arts, showcasing the “Peau Rouge Indiana” in all its glory.
Herman B Wells by Harold 'Tuck' Langland
Possibly one of the most well-known sites on campus, this statue honors IU's former president and chancellor Herman B Wells in a life-size bronze statue right by the Rose Well House. Artist Harold ‘Tuck’ Langland created the statue in 2000; it depicts Wells sitting on a bench with his hand outstretched.
It has become a student tradition to shake his hand for good luck on final exams. Wells continues to be a prominent figure for the university and is often credited with transforming the campus into what it is today.
“Amatria” by Philip Beesley
Installed in Luddy Hall's fourth floor in April 2018, “Amatria” stands out from IU's catalog of stationary sculptures. Constructed by Canadian architect Philip Beesley, this vast spiderweb-like living sculpture that moves and reacts to students passing by. This structure is comprised of transparent 3D-printed components as well as sensors, actuators and speakers all while maintaining a light weight.
IU student volunteers played a key role in the statue creation, aiding in assembling the sculpture's many intricate features and wiring electrical components to make the piece feel truly "sentient." This complex structure is at the center of the floor's "makerspace," acting to inspire students along the process of creation and invention.
“Spirit of Indiana” by Dora Natella
This piece is inspired by IU's original 1925 motto, which shares the same name. “Spirit of Indiana” shows the importance of teamwork with five bronze student athletes joined together. The sculptor, Dora Natella, who works at IU South Bend, wanted to create a centerpiece for the southern entrance to IU's Memorial Stadium.
Funded in 2016 and installed in 2021, this 4,830-pound statue was first modeled in clay and digitally enlarged. After that, artists made rubber and plastic molds that were cast in weather-resistant bronze.
“Harlan” by Amy Brier, Mike Donham, and Accent Limestone
A giant limestone sculpture of a human brain stands right outside of IU's psychology building. Unveiled in October 2013 and standing at seven feet tall, "Harlan" is the largest scientifically accurate sculpture of a human brain in the world.
This sculpture honors the Harlan Family Foundation, a private charity based in Avon, Indiana, who entirely funded the sculpture. Bloomington artist Amy Brier, limestone carver Mike Donham and his team at Accent Limestone worked together to finish this massive project.
Ernie Pyle by Harold 'Tuck' Langland
Directly in front of Franklin Hall, former IU student Ernie Pyle sits on a wooden munitions crate and uses a typewriter in his position as a World War II correspondent.
Although he never graduated from IU, leaving during his junior year to become a journalist, Pyle went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for reporting and relaying firsthand war experiences to the public. Pyle was also once a summer editor-in-chief for the Indiana Daily Student, and his desk is located inside the IDS newsroom.
“Indiana Arc” by Charles O. Perry
Charles O. Perry created the arc in 1995 from aluminum, creating a twisted open-ended circle. The sculpture is defined by its bright red color, honoring IU President Emeritus Thomas Ehrlich, the 15th president of IU from 1987 to 1994, and his wife Ellen.
This 21-foot-tall abstract piece is set in front of the Eskenazi Museum of Art and has become a signature photo spot for IU students and visitors. It aims to puzzle onlookers and encourage them to reflect on the convergence of art and life.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's Fall/Winter 2026 Source Campus Visitor's Guide.
