Randyland

Randyland is an outdoor art installation at 1501 Arch St in Pittsburgh’s North Side, where artist Randy Gilson has turned his home and yard into a vivid display of murals, painted found objects and playful decorations. Walk through the courtyard and look closely at the different objects, colors and messages; there are plenty of spots for photos. Admission is free, and you can also explore parts of the house. Set aside at least 30 minutes if you want time to take it all in.

How Randyland began

Artist Randy Gilson began transforming a North Side property in 1995. He painted buildings and repurposed discarded objects as art, gradually turning the home and yard into a public installation. The project grew from his aim to bring color to the neighborhood.

Randyland is in Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Streets district. Its displays include murals, sculptures and objects arranged around the property, with color and found materials at the center of the work.

What to look for

Take time to notice how ordinary objects have been painted and assembled into decorations. Mirrors, quotations and colorful walls add different details as you move through the space. The arrangements can change as Gilson updates the paint and displays, so the installation may look different from photographs taken on an earlier visit.

The courtyard and parts of the house are open to visitors. Photography is a common reason to stop, but the displays also invite a closer look at how reused objects have been turned into art. The property’s free admission makes it easy to add a short visit to a North Side itinerary.