ABSTRACT
Public outdoor sculptures are a common sight at various locations, like roundabouts, road junctions, open streets, parks and so on, in Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti states of Nigeria. A survey of these sculptures has revealed that, the sculptures are not subjected to proper maintenance measures. The study on appraisal of contemporary public outdoor sculptures is carried out to: identify the functions of public outdoor sculptures in the selected states, ascertain if the public sculptures have achieved the purpose for which they are made, examine the ways in which the sculptures are maintained, and provide a scholarly document on public outdoor sculptures in Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states. All sculptures that were identified in the selected states were discussed and analysed, and subsequently documented. It was discovered that, the sculptures were commissioned to perform some specific functions in the communities, for instance, they serve as custodians of history of the communities that house them, and also serve as means of immortalising great heroes and heroine. The study also brought to limelight that, many of the sculptures were not well maintained and no authority was identified to be incharge of their maintenance. Based on these, therefore, the study recommends that: Government should enact laws that will protect the sculptures from being mishandled by the public and community Associations should liaise with the government and periodically maintain the sculptures.
