The Home Run Sculpture

Marlins Park features millions of dollars in modern art exhibits and none stands out or is more controversial than the Home Run Sculpture. Designed by renowned multimedia pop artist Red Grooms, the $2.5 million “sculpture” is taller than many buildings and fish, birds and flamingos. When a Marlins player hits a home run, the various elements start moving, the lights flicker and water spouts up.

The controversial sculpture always seems to draw criticism from first time visitors. In its reviews, the NY Times described it as follows:

The game aside, the main attraction is clearly the kinetic sculpture by the Pop maestro of kitsch, Red Grooms, in left-center field: marlins spin, flamingos flap and water splashes whenever a Marlin hits a homer. Miamians have been competing to come up with a name for it (the Marlinator and the Marlinstrosity are two, so far). This over-the-top gizmo is to the Mets’ homely home-run apple what the video game Call of Duty is to a jack-in-the-box. Considering how few homers have been hit so far, the fences might need to be brought in before too long to make sure it is exercised.

The sculpture, combined with the Kermit-green walls and colorful tiles makes Marlins Park feel like a pinball arcade.