The Bronze Turd Heard ‘Round the City: Chicago’s Most Blunt Piece of Public Art Still Has Something to Say

We’ve all been there — stepping off the curb, AirPods in, mind somewhere else… and boom. Squish. You look down and think, “What a jagoff?” That, my friend, is the gospel of Wolcott and Augusta — and it’s been immortalized in bronze.

Meet the Shit Fountain, a hilariously blunt, weirdly beautiful piece of public art that’s been flipping off negligent dog owners since the early 2000s. Crafted by legendary Chicago artist Jerzy S. Kenar, this turd-shaped tribute isn’t just a sculpture — it’s a civic battle cry. A coiled bronze lump, complete with flowing water, sits triumphantly atop a three-foot sandstone pedestal, proudly labeled on all sides: “SHIT FOUNTAIN.” Subtle? Not at all. Effective? Absolutely.

The kicker? It’s not even on public land. The whole thing sits on Kenar’s private property, so save your complaints and leash up some accountability.

Kenar, whose résumé includes the holy water font at Loyola University’s Madonna della Strada Chapel and striking works at O’Hare and Renaissance Park, is no stranger to spiritual or civic symbolism. So maybe, just maybe, there’s a little holiness in this heaping reminder to be a better neighbor. After all, if your dog poops… you poop. Spiritually speaking.

Entry fee? Zero. Selfies? Encouraged. But do us all a favor: bring a bag and clean up after your pup. Let’s not make the artist add another sculpture.

🎨 Want more of Kenar’s work? Check out his Instagram: @kenarart

For more Stories From The 78, follow @tombarnas78 on Instagram and @storiesfromthe78 on TikTok.