Herky parades across campus

Dr. Grant Herky, Alumni Band Herky, and Old Gold Herky are just a few of the statues placed on campus.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

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Image Gallery

Graduation Herky—which was part of the 2014 iteration of the community’s Herky on Parade public art project—has become one of the most iconic figures on the University of Iowa campus.

This year, 23 new Herky statues have been placed across campus as part of the 2024 rendition of Herky on Parade.

On May 1, 100 Herky statues were unveiled across Johnson County by Think Iowa City, the local convention and visitors bureau organization. The statues were designed by artists, and each embodies a special theme. This is the third time the Herky on Parade public art project has taken place. Previously, Herky statues were installed in 2004 and 2014.

If you’d like to go Herky hunting, a list of all campus statues and their locations is below, and you can see each statue in this photo gallery.

A complete list, a map marking the location of all 100 Herkys, and information about each artist can be found on the Think Iowa City website.

Yoda Herky, in recognition of legendary Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee, Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Dr. Grant Herky, in recognition of the late Dr. Christine Grant, a pioneer in women’s athletics, Carver-Hawkeye Arena main entrance
Game Day Herky, Hawkeye Softball Complex near the ticket booth
Herky’s Salute to Service, Kinnick Stadium, south side
25 Years of Captain Kirk, Hansen Football Performance Center
Can’t Believe It’s Butter Herky, Becker Communication Studies Building, Iowa Avenue and Madison Street
First Responder Herky, Biology Building East, Dubuque Street and Iowa Avenue
Connections Herky, Cleary Walkway, Kautz Plaza
Herk’s Anatomy, Cleary Walkway, near Chemistry Building
Colors of Courage Herky, College of Public Health, Highway 6 and Riverside Drive
Tennis Herky, Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex, 2820 Prairie Meadow Drive
IMU Centennial Herky, Iowa Memorial Union, inside
Herky Wilder, Main Library, inside
Alumni Band Herky, Athletics Hall of Fame, inside
Hayden Herky, UI Athletics Hall of Fame, inside
Herky for All, Lindquist Center, patio
From Soil to Sky Herky, Macbride Hall
Herk-E, tribute to Marsden Hartley, Stanley Museum of Art
Old Gold Herky, celebrating Duke Slater, Pentacrest, Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue
Just Herky, Pentacrest, Jefferson Street and Cleary Walkway
Herky Smiles, Dental Science Building, this statue will be installed on May 6
Farm Strong Herky, University Capitol Centre, outside Clinton Street entrance
Universe Without Bounds Herky, Van Allen Hall, Seashore greenspace plaza

Artists with UI connections

Of the 100 Herky statues parading across Johnson County, 27 were designed by University of Iowa faculty, staff, students, alumni, or future Hawkeyes.

Some of the artists designed more than one Herky, while some of the Herkys were designed by multiple artists. Families, friends, couples, as well as first-time and long-time artists shared their time and talents to help Herky celebrate his 75th birthday.