LOVE them or hate them, you can't ignore them.
Public art is designed to be seen and to stand out and make a statement.
But what statement is it making, and what does it say about the people who made it?
Few subjects spark more controversy than the installation of a public artwork.
Usually, but not always, it's because public money – often large amounts – has been spent on them.
That means the public have an ownership of the work, and therefore take an interest in whether they've got value for money and whether their lives, and those of others, are enriched as a result.
So, in no particular order, here are five of the best and five of the worst in Exeter.
As always, it's your opinion that counts, so let us know what you think of our selection, and what you would have included or left out.
Five of the best:
Mural at Urban Outfitters building, Exeter High Street.
One of Exeter's newest pieces of public art has already become iconic.
When Urban Outfitters said it would commission an artwork to go on the side of its new store in the High Street, few thought much of it.
And then this beautiful work appeared. The striking image was first painted on to the side of the building and then chiselled into the wall.
The work is by internationally renowned graffiti/street artist Alexandre Farto, from Portugal. The store said at the time: "We want Exeter to be a go-ahead place and this just shows how blooming good Exeter is and how big the opportunities are for us."
It was right. A beautiful, bold, towering modern classic for all to admire.
Westgate mural, New Bridge Street.
Few artworks are as evocative of their era as this one.
Painted by Andrew Stacey to celebrate the Westgate Festival in 1979, the huge mural lives on in glorious technicolour.
Local characters feature, as well as the weird and wonderful world of carnival and street theatre.
An artwork to admire and get lost in, it deserves to be listed.
Anyone returning to Exeter knows they're home when they spot this gem, and its striking companion in nearly Holloway Street, which has recently been restored.
St Sidwell sculpture, Sidwell Street.
Another iconic Exeter artwork, the colourful sculpture on the former Tesco store, next to St Sidwells Church, is of St Sidwella, Exeter's very own saint who was killed during the Roman occupation of Exeter.
We can thank Tesco for paying for this gem, made by Frederick Irving in 1969.
It's given residents and shoppers something striking to admire for four decades.
Pedestrian sculpture outside Boots, High Street.
Known by some as the Wibbly Wobbly people, this beautiful sculpture has become part of Exeter life since it was first placed in the High Street in 1989. It was removed in 2003 to allow the High Street to be refurbished and put back into position, by popular demand, in 2005.
Cornish sculptor Carole Vincent was commissioned by Devon County Council to produce four of these, to commemorate, somewhat bizarrely, the year of the pedestrian.
The best one is in Exeter. If you've never stopped to have a look, do so next time you pass. You won't be disappointed.
Mechanical bird, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street.
In 1999, when the former Devon and Exeter Arts in Gandy Street became the Exeter Phoenix, it was decided something special should be placed at the entrance.
And very special it is. The sculpture is magnificent in its own right. But it gets even better when the stainless steel, hydraulically driven bird clatters into life and does a little dance.
It's been resting from such strenuous activity for a while, but there are plans to restore it to its former mechanical glory. In the meantime, just admire the sculpture.
Blue Boy statue, Princesshay.
The statue in Princesshay is one of a set and once stood at the site of St John's Hospital School.
It was removed when the new Princesshay was constructed, and there were fears that it would be lost or re-sited elsewhere.
But by popular demand it returned, being placed on a new plinth for the opening in September 2007.
It's not particularly great to look at, but its simple and intriguing design has been a much loved feature in the city for decades.
A constant in changing times, the affection this statue is held in means it fully deserves its place on the list.
Five of the worst examples:
Heavitree Arch, Fore Street, Heavitree.
Building an arch is fine, but what happens when it is sited immediately in front of the wall of a shop?
And what if it lights up in gaudy colours, and is covered in writing few people, if anyone, could ever fathom?
And what if it cost £170,000 of public money?
That's what happened with the unloved and unwanted Heavitree Arch off Fore Street.
It's a metal and glass folly and a big mistake from which all other public artwork projects should learn a lesson.
Daycaster, Honiton Road, Sowton.
As multi-coloured landmark works of art go, the great Exeter Gateway to the city, also known as the Daycaster, makes a very useful bike rack.
Built at a cost of £140,000, including £20,000 from Exeter City Council, it's meant to celebrate the arrival of the nearby Met Office, and also tell us the weather, by glowing different colours.
What could be better?
The trouble is it never really worked. Once billed as Exeter's Angel of the North, its 24 lit panels along its 72m stainless steel, toast-rack frame above the Honiton Road/Sowton roundabout, now look slightly foolish. How many drivers even notice it?
Exe Bridge subway mural.
Exeter boasts many bright and beautiful murals.
But this isn't one of them, red and blue at turns, the red is a hell-like flame while the blue is like an arctic cold wind.
It was a great idea to brighten up an otherwise dingy underpass, and in some sections it's great.
But this is awful.
Riddle statue, Exeter High Street.
Lots of people like this and it has become a key feature of the High Street.
But what is it supposed to be? The six meter high stainless steel sculptor and balls is, as the name suggests, a riddle. Built at a cost of £65,000 in 2005 it was part of a major refurbishment of the High Street.
It has stood the test of time, and still looks in good nick, but it clutters the High Street and leaves shoppers as puzzled as its riddles.
Princesshay car park sculpture.
At a cost of £80,000, and commissioned to commemorate the Queen's diamond jubilee visit to Exeter, you could be forgiven for expecting a little more than these silver spikes on a wall in Princesshay. No disrespect to the Danish artists commissioned to make the 30ft high silver 'leaves', but it's hardly a great location and they are slightly lost on the Princesshay car park wall.
It's not at all ugly. But the problem is you could be forgiven for not knowing it was there.
Subtle, yes. But by the same token it lacks the impact required to make it stand out.
