“This Nightmare Creature”: 50 Of The Most Bizarre And Ugly Statues Around The World

Public opinion on art can be surprisingly strong.

In 2025, a survey asked 2,000 Americans to name the ugliest public art in the country.

The top spot went to the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise, Alabama. It was built in 1919 and honors the insect that once destroyed local cotton crops.

While that may sound strange, the pest actually forced farmers to diversify which made the local economy better.

But many people still find the image of a woman proudly holding a giant bug confusing rather than inspiring.

Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks in New Haven was voted the second ugliest. It was designed as political commentary, but to many people, it simply looks weird.

Surveys have also found a pattern in what people find strange in public art.

Giant animals, insects, and everyday objects blown up to extreme size often appear on ugly lists.

For example, the Woinic sculpture in France features a massive steel wild boar. It weighs around 50 tons and is one of the largest animal sculptures in the world. It’s impressive, but not at all subtle.

Statues of real people are also hard to like, unless they’re perfectly made.

For example, the statue of Lucille Ball in New York has been nicknamed “Scary Lucy” because it looks nothing like Lucille Ball, the beloved star of ‘I Love Lucy’ sitcom.

People said the face was distorted and the smile felt more creepy than comedic.

Sports figures and celebrity statues in other places have faced similar criticism — think Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous airport bust in Portugal or even the polarizing reactions to Michael Jordan’s statue in Chicago.

Artists believe that human likeness is really hard to get right.

“In my experience, one of the biggest challenges in sculpting realistic human figures is creating an authentic sense of presence… this approach takes patience, especially with marble, where tight timelines or even my own impatience can make things challenging,” says sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås, whose works include iconic figures like Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.

“In high-profile works, public reactions can be intense and varied. People have strong ideas about how these individuals look, who they are, and how they should be remembered,” he adds.

For some artists, the challenge lies in going beyond mere likeness to tell a story that means something. At the same time, they need to be ready for an audience that may not always understand the intent of their art.

In China, an online poll collected thousands of votes to rank the ugliest public sculptures.

A piece called ‘Life,’ an abstract structure in Wuhan made of steel rods shaped like a nest, was voted the worst by the public.

Art experts defended it as a strong example of modern design.

The situation highlighted a common tension — what artists praise might not always be what everyday viewers appreciate.

Public opinion means a lot when it comes to public art. So much so that backlash and criticism can lead to the removal of some statues.

For example, Den Store Havfrue — the “Big Mermaid” statue —in Denmark’s Copenhagen is going to be removed after several complaints from locals who called it vulgar and out of place.

The artist defended his work, but the locals and the government had the final say.

Artists believe that even if a piece of art leads to memes or outrage, it still serves a purpose by starting conversations and making people react.

“Every piece of public art alters its surroundings, provoking a range of responses. Some embrace the transformation, while others resist it. Either way, the interaction between a statue and its viewers is a critical part of its story,” says Norwegian sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås.