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Swansation: The story of Lakeland’s swan statues

Learn the history behind the iconic swan statues found around Lakeland.

A swan statue with a blue and yellow swirl design

There are all sorts of swans to be found on Lake Morton. | Photo by LALtoday

Any Lakelander will recognize the ~60 iconic swan statues found around town — but do you know where they came from? While our real local swans arrived 100+ years ago, their fiberglass counterparts flocked to Swan City back in 2002.

A swan statue with a fairytale book design

Can you spot your favorite fairy tales in this swan’s design? | Photo by LALtoday

The statues first landed in Lakeland during Swansation, a public arts project held to raise funds for Explorations V Children’s Museum — now known as Florida Children’s Museum.

The statues were displayed downtown before being auctioned off and relocated around town in 2003. Businesses originally paid $3,000-$20,000 for the swans, then had artists and students decorate each one in a unique style.

A swan statue with a painted scene

Artist Mike Conrad was inspired by Georges Seurat for “A SwanDay Afternoon.” | Photo by LALtoday

Local artist Rick Olivo created a mold for the fiberglass swans, and this wasn’t his only impact on Lakeland. He was also involved with the current-day Lakeland Community Theatre, taught at Rochelle School of the Arts, and created the Florida Children’s Museum’s Dragon of Toys. Olivo was inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame in 2023.

A swan statue with a painted design of downtown Lakeland

Lakeland high schoolers refurbished this swan’s Lake Mirror design. | Photo by LALtoday

The birds bear a variety of styles, from bold designs to intricately painted scenes, with some designs staying the same over the past 20+ years and others changing with the times. Lakeland High School students even had a hand in refurbishing two of the statues in 2019.

A swan statue with a film reel design and photographs of Lakeland

This cinematic swan with long eyelashes is ready for its close-up. | Photo by LALtoday

Today, you can find the swans all over Lakeland. While most stuck around downtown, a few of the feathered friends found new nests in Dixieland, near Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, around Lake Morton, at Common Ground Playground, or even in residential backyards.

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Look out for these swansational statues and add them to our community map. Snap a photo and upload it with the statue’s location so others can find them as well. Good luck, Swan City.

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