Outdoor art is intended to be seen in exterior setting and is often publicly accessible. Because of its location, outdoor art must be made of materials that can withstand weather. In the case of sculptures, common materials include bronze, aluminum and concrete. Over the course of years, a patina will form on the surface of sculpture kept outside, altering its appearance. This can be desirable for some works, but in all cases outdoor sculptures must be regularly cleaned by conservators. Some artists who have created well known and loved outdoor sculptures include Claes Oldenburg, Louise Bourgeois, and Alexander Calder. Oldenburg’s oversized replicas of common objects, like a spoon with a cherry balanced on its tip, are staples of sculpture gardens across the United States. Bourgeois is best known for her enormous cast bronze spiders, perches on spindly legs as high as 8 feet tall. Calder’s monumental outdoor works are usually made of painted steel and take on whimsical and abstracted forms. In contrast to the strong materials used by these three artists, Dale Chihuly uses fragile blown glass to make his instantly recognizable towers, which also commonly reside outside.

Outdoor art can also take the form of murals painted on semi permanent or permanent structures. Artists use techniques perfected by graffiti artists for such installations, often using spray paint and stencils to create wall-sized paintings. Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, and Shepard Fairey first became well known for their work painted illicitly in outdoor public spaces.