Gracehoper

Gracehoper is a geometric steel sculpture at Louisville Waterfront Park featuring angular black painted forms and clean lines. The work stands near the Ohio River banks and presents different visual impressions from various viewing positions.

The Humana Foundation donated this steel sculpture to the city in 1989 as a tribute to Wendell Cherry's leadership in the performing arts. The gift represented a major moment of public art support for Louisville.

The name comes from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake and references the industrial hoppers that were used to load coal into railroad cars. Visitors recognize in the metal forms an echo of the working past tied to this river city.

The sculpture sits along the waterfront walking paths and is easy to access while exploring the park's grounds. Visitors can walk close to the work and view it from different angles around its position.

This work is the second of three versions of the same composition, with the first version held at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The existence of these variations shows how artists can recreate their works across different locations.

Location: Louisville

Inception: 1988

Creator: Tony Smith

GPS coordinates: 38.26020,-85.74860

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:40