Places near me Random place
All the United States Texas San Antonio The Picasso Benches

The Picasso Benches

Tile mosaics and quotes from Pablo Picasso add an artistic flair to these bus stop benches.

San Antonio, Texas

Added By
William Davis
The Picasso Benches.   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
The mosaic.   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
“Art washes from the soul…”   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
“…the dust of everyday life.”   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
  englishlyd / Atlas Obscura User
Picasso.   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
Blue Star Arts Complex.   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

If you happen to be waiting for a bus near the Blue Star Arts Complex in San Antonio, Texas, you’ll notice the benches fit in with their artistic surroundings.

The set of cement benches are covered with tile mosaics and stone designs. At the base of each bench, you can read a quote from world-famous artist Pablo Picasso, which says, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

The benches are a pleasant surprise for anyone expecting the usual cold, dreary bus shelter furniture. They’re enough to make you stop and realize that art is everywhere, even in the most everyday places, should you choose to seek it out.

The bus shelter is located near the Blue Star Arts Complex, a non-profit art institution in San Antonio’s King William Cultural Arts District.

Related Tags

Art Transportation Infrastructure Furniture

Community Contributors

Added By

satxwdavis

Edited By

plcanedo, englishlyd

Published

November 22, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos

Nearby Places

Explore the Destination Guide

Related Stories and Lists

Related Places

  • Seattle, Washington

    Tree Grate Museum

    Five varieties of trees with custom-designed grates around the trunk are planted along the route of the Seattle Transit Tunnel.

  • Remnants of the streetcar station.

    Washington, D.C.

    The Dupont Underground

    Long-abandoned trolley tunnels just a mile away from the White House are turning into an art space.

  • The Holborn Viaduct as seen from Farringdon Street.

    London, England

    Holborn Viaduct

    London’s first road overpass is so old that it was originally built for horse-drawn carriages.

  • The statue of James Henry Greathead with a bus passing on one side.

    London, England

    Statue of James Henry Greathead

    This statue of one of the engineers who created the London Underground hides a ventilation shaft for the tube lines that run under the street.

  •

    Chattanooga, Tennessee

    Bench Avenue

    When local government began removing public benches, the public pushed back, and vibrant, community-built seating now outnumbers the official shelters at Chattanooga bus stops.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member