Several works by women sculptors are located outdoors on Penn’s campus, many in and around Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. For example, Penn’s famous Split Button (1981) of aluminum painted white, located in Blanche Levy Park between the Library and College Hall (Almanac July 14, 1981), was created by internationally renowned Swedish-American artist Claes Oldenburg in collaboration with Coosje van Bruggen, his wife and a sculptor and art critic in her own right. Its four holes recall Philadelphia founder William Penn’s design for laying out the center of the city around four symmetrically placed parks. The Button, as it is popularly called, measures 16 feet in diameter, weighs over 5,000 pounds, and today serves as an unofficial central landmark and focal point of Penn’s campus. Children and adults alike can always be found popping out of the sculpture’s holes and posing for a picture. A legend exists that attributes the Split Button to the University’s founder, Benjamin Franklin. According to the legend, a button popped off the seated Franklin sculpture’s vest and rolled across Locust Walk. It eventually came to a stop and split into two—hence becoming today’s sculpture.

The mural In the Garden, by American-born Jennifer Bartlett, a prominent contemporary painter, is scattered throughout the library in numerous pieces. It was formerly in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). The mural consists of painted enamel steel plates that portray the garden behind the villa Ms. Bartlett lived in while visiting Nice, France. The focus of her mural is a rectangular pool.

Beatrice Fenton’s bronze Pan with Sundial (1938), offering beauty and whimsy to the Class of 1972 Reading Garden outside Van Pelt Library, was donated in memory of William Stansfield by his wife. Beatrice Fenton (1887-1983) was in the artistic circle of Philadelphia painter Thomas Eakins. The Eakins’ painting The Coral Necklace (Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio) features her reclining in a chair, wearing a coral necklace.

After the completion of the New College House at Hill Square, Jenny Holzer’s 125 Years once again lines the walkway between 33rd and 34th Streets. Originally installed in 2003, this extensive outdoor artwork consists of granite benches and curbs which are inscribed with text (Almanac November 25, 2003). For the inscriptions, Ms. Holzer curated a selection of quotations by Penn-affiliated women to celebrate the 125th anniversary of women’s enrollment at Penn. Ms. Holzer is an American conceptual artist known for her large-scale public displays.

In addition to these sculptures, the University Art Collection includes numerous prints and paintings by women. A small selection of such artworks is on display at the Penn Women’s Center including Reva Urban’s print from Fantasy Series.