Joplin, Missouri is expanding its public art project along historic Route 66 with 16 new 3D paintings. Artists are creating two-dimensional works that produce three-dimensional optical illusions, building on existing pieces installed in 2024 and 2025 at the Harry M. Cornell Arts and Entertainment Complex and Schifferdecker Park. Two new images are already in place at 1717 West 7th Street, with 14 more artists installing their work from June 3 to June 5. A grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, June 6.
This project matters because it positions Joplin as home to what organizers believe is the world's largest outdoor gallery of 3D art, with 29 total pieces. By tying the artwork to the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the initiative leverages the iconic highway's cultural significance to attract tourists and celebrate local heritage. It represents a growing investment in public art as a driver of community identity and economic development in a mid-sized American city.